Amera

Amera grabbed Jade’s hand and gripped her lighter as she looked around, her inner thoughts returning to the precious flame that she knew she could count on I’m not supposed to start fires but we’re lost and I have Jade to worry about… if it’s small… With that in mind the pyro quickly takes her lighter out and flicks it so the flame flickers slightly. She kept letting it go out then lighting it again then finally she sees a ferris wheel in the distance. Thinking quickly Amera grabs Jade’s hand and pulls her gently towards the ride, pausing every now and then at the girls’ ever active curiosity before getting impatient and taking the girl on the ride. When they were high enough she ripped a piece of her shirt and flicks her lighter against the material smiling in joy as the flames flickered



Lore:

Lore pushed her way through the wave of people then blinks seeing the blonde girl. She tuned them out and looked around, squinting she tilts her head,
“David… does that look like.. fire?”

David, Lore, Tiffany: As David lost himself in thought trying to figure out where Jade could have gone and Tiffany brushed her self off, Lore grabbed both of their attentions as she pointed to a flickering light high upon the ferris wheel. “David… does that look like.. fire?”
As Lore spoke, others nearby started pointing and whispering about the strange sight.

Amera & Jade: While sitting atop the Ferris Wheel, Amera failed to notice that her and Jade had been stopped at the peak of their ride, transfixed in the warm glow of the fire. Jade, scared of the flame and the height they were at, grabbed tightly onto Amera's arm and tried not to cry.

...David:

"Are you looking for someone, mister??"
David began, "Yes, my daughter. 10ish-"

“David… does that look like.. fire?”
Putting his hand over his eyes, and following Lore's finger to the top of the ferris wheel, he noticed the glow. It was a warm orange... just like fire... oh-oh... forgetting about Tiffany for a moment, anxiety began to flood over David.

"Amera doesn't happen to like heights does she?" David asked hopefully, already knowing what the answer was. Not waiting for an answer, David began to push his way towards the ferris wheel. Hopefully, David got there before the whole thing went up in flames.

...Jade:

Jade was unsure of what Amera was doing, but she wouldn't put Jade in danger. If she did, her father would get to her. Being strong in the face of fear, Jade held on tight to Amera's arm. Near crying, Jade asked, "What... what's the fire for?" Jade looked down with pleading eyes, hoping her father was down there somewhere...

"Yes, my daughter. 10ish-" the man began to explain, until he was cut off. The goth-looking girl was pointing in the direction of the ferris wheel. Her voice was tremulous.

"David… does that look like.. fire?"
Tiffany regarded her curiously, then looked up in the direction the girl was pointing. Indeed it did: a dim orange glow, unorthodox next to the brightly coloured carnival lights illuminating the circular structure, could be faintly seen at the apex against the opposing glare.

"Amera doesn't happen to like heights, does she?" The man said, half questioning, half stating what seemed to be an unpleasant possibility of fact. Amera... the name was unfamiliar.

"Maybe she can help us find Jade!" Tiffany blurted, as though to try and relax the man. As she spoke, however, he had started pushing his way through the crowd in the direction of the ferris wheel and the flames.

Recognizing that there was some gravity to this situation, and that something had to do with this Amera and the ferris wheel- and possibly even Jade- she followed after him, calling to the goth girl over her shoulder: "Let's go after him and see!"

Amera & Jade:
Hearing the tear-filled question Amera shakes herself out of her flame induced happiness and turns to the girl, “Oh, oh Jade.. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.. It’s the signal David and my sister so they know where to find us.. The height gives us an advantage” wincing slightly she shakes her figures as the last of the material singes and finally flutters out, ripping another piece of her shirt she lights it again this time paying more attention to both the flame and the young girl she had managed to scare.




Lore:

Lore raced ahead of the blonde girl, forcibly moving people out of the way, her sister was there. Running beside David she shook her head, “Amera loves heights, but I doubt that she’d intentionally put Jade in danger.” She hoped that her sister wasn’t that stupid..

Stepping up the Ferris wheel she waits until she sees her sister steps off and forces her way towards her twin, punching her in the jaw, “You stupid, stupid.. What were you thinking!? Do you know how much could have happened, what could have went wrong! Do you ever think at all Amera? I could have… “ Breaking down she leaned against her twin and openly sobbed, “I could have been left alone…”

8:50pm
Friday, Oct. 31/08
Sweet Rock, BC

David, Lore, Tiffany: The trio pushed their way through the crowds of people as they fought towards the Ferris Wheel holding Amera. David's mind raced, hoping that Jade would be with his past client, she'd be much safer with her than anyone else.

Tiffany and Lore kept pace behind David as he led the way through the crowds. Though it didn't look far away, it felt like hours were passing as they raced forwards. Slowly they all tired of running, but managed to pull on their inner strength and keep going.

After what felt like a millenia, the trio finally arrived at the Ferris Wheel to see Amera and Jade stepping off of a cart. Jade, suprised and joyous to see her father, rushed towards him and jumped into his arms, smiling as she noticed Tiffany. Amera smiled at the site until she was knocked back by the force of her sister's fist against her jaw. She didn't have time to recover from the shock as she was embraced by her sister just as quickly as she had been hit.

David murmured a quite curse to himself under his breath. Why did the crowd seem so thick? He had to get to the ferris wheel. If Jade was near and the fire happened... no, he couldn't think that. With new vigour, David continued to push his way through the crowd, hardly noticing Tiffany and Lore behind him.

Stepping off the cart wide eyed in fear, Jade looked up. She saw her father emerging from the crowd. She screamed in delight, and ran into her fathers arms. "Jade, I was so worried," David finally managed to say.

"I was with your friend. We managed to win things!" Jade excitedly. "Want to see? Want to see?"

"Sure," David said, hardly curbing any acid from creeping into his voice. He looked up to say something to Amera, but Lore seemed to have it handled. David would bring it up later, after Lore had finished with the... somewhat violent reunion. David turned his attention back to Jade.

Tiffany had no trouble keeping up with David and Lore; her long-time membership in the school field hockey team kept her stamina well in check. The next few events to occur, however, seemed to rush by her in something of a flurry.

At the foot of the ferris wheel- where she caught up to the man and the goth- a different girl, wearing a knitted hat and having fewer piercings than the gothier girl standing next to her, stepped out of the ride with a young child. The little girl could only have been ten years old; Tiffany found herself experiencing the very same odd feeling of recognition and familiarity as she had with the girl's father. The real commotion set in as the goth girl rushed towards the older party (apparently, the two were related) and slammed a fist into the latter's face. There was a momentary pause. As soon as that had happened, however, the goth was clutching her sister in a tearful embrace and the little girl came barrelling towards her father, squealing with delight and clutching a small plethora of game shop trinkets. The whole thing was somewhat confusing to poor Tiffany, who still didn't even know anybody's name.

Nevertheless, she knew that the outcomes to both stories had turned out to be all right, and, torn between comforting the sisters and sharing in the man's baffled relief, said aloud in a cheery voice: "Welp, looks like everything is picking right up from here! We should all get some ice cream or something!"

Amera shocked by the impact of the punch then the hug she slowly wraps her arms around her sister,
“I could have been left alone….” “I’m sorry .. I..” trailing off she knew better than to apologize for scaring her sister.. ever since that time…

”Amera! Amera where are you!” she could hear her twin yelling for her above the rush of flames that licked their beloved home. She had been sleeping when their parents rushed into her room and took her outside and went back inside repeating the act with her older twin, but a beam had dropped onto their mother so their father went back inside… She felt hands wrapping around her trying to tug her away,

“They’re still in there… Someone has to save them!” Her voice didn’t sound like her own, panic filled and higher than normal as she struggled against the arms.

“They’re lost… They’re gone…”
Breaking free of the memory she pulls back from her sister and walks over to David,
“I’m sorry that I lit a fire so close to Jade, it was the only way I could think of to get your attention, we couldn’t find you… She was never in danger, I wouldn’t have let it get to her…”

---

Lore watches her twin sadly, she knew what those words would have sparked a painful memory… she continued to watch her sister when a cheery voice cut through,
Whelp.. looks like everything is picking right up from here! We should all get some ice cream or something! Lore shook her head before walking over to Amera and smacks her again,
“This is why I told you to give me your lighters. You know you aren’t supposed…” She trailed off, and Amera shrugs,
“If I didn’t have them, you wouldn’t have found us..” Lore grumbled at her sister’s point but left it alone. It seemed to Lore that Amera’s love of fire proved itself this time…

9:00pm
Friday, Oct. 31/08
Sweet Rock, BC

The party: The newly formed and reunited group stood at the base of the Ferris Wheel being pressed together from the large crowds around them. Tiffany's question hung in the air unanswered as the sisters Lore and Amera regained their composure, and David made sure his daughter was okay. Looking to the night sky, they could notice it was darker then it normally would be. Anyone checking their watches noticed it was only 9:00pm, a strange time to be so dark out.

"ATTENTION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW OUR SPECIAL FREAK SHOW SHALL BE STARTING IN 15 MINUTES. MAKE SURE TO COME TO THE BIG TENT IN THE CENTER OF THE PARK AND PARTAKE IN THE FESTIVITIES!"
Slightly startled from the overly loud voice that sprang from the loudspeakers spread throughout the park, the party noticed many people seemed to be almost fighting their way through the crowds to get to the center of the carnival. As they observed the oddities around them, a large man dressed in all black stepped up behind Amera and whispered quietly enough only she could hear "Tick, Tock." into her ear. As he slipped away into the crowd, the others looked back to see Amera visibly shaken by something, but they were unsure what.

“I’m sorry that I lit a fire so close to Jade, it was the only way I could think of to get your attention, we couldn’t find you… She was never in danger, I wouldn’t have let it get to her…”
Anger briefly got the better of David. "What about one of the coordinators? They could have tracked me down!" David paused, regaining his composure. It wasn't really David's place to teach Amera this. And he certainly shouldn't be so harsh to his client. "Sorry. I guess it worked... just be more careful next time..."


"Welp, looks like everything is picking right up from here! We should all get some ice cream or something!"

David turned to Tiffany. He was unsure exactly why she was still here, and why he recognized her. David was about to pose this question when the loudspeaker blared, "ATTENTION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW OUR SPECIAL FREAK SHOW SHALL BE STARTING IN 15 MINUTES. MAKE SURE TO COME TO THE BIG TENT IN THE CENTER OF THE PARK AND PARTAKE IN THE FESTIVITIES!"
"Ooh! A show? What's a freak show exactly?" Jade asked. David glanced down at her.

"Nothing we should go watch. I'm surprised they still exist..." When David looked back up, Amera was visibly shaken. David didn't know he had been that hostile to her. "Amera? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost. A real one, that is..." David's voice drifted off as he realized how dumb of a statement that was in a theme park full of ghost costumes.

Tiffany's question remained unanswered. That was okay, now that the suited man was with his daughter, but a few other things needed to be considered. For one, she had just lost her phone. That was terrible, but she knew her parents could always just get herself another one. It was nice to have money. For another, night had fallen unusually fast. Tiffany didn't give it much heed, but noticed that the suited man with the little girl- her name was Jade, right?- had turned to her. She gave him a big smile; perhaps he was still shook up.

A great booming voice startled her suddenly. "ATTENTION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW OUR SPECIAL FREAK SHOW SHALL BE STARTING IN 15 MINUTES. MAKE SURE TO COME TO THE BIG TENT IN THE CENTER OF THE PARK AND PARTAKE IN THE FESTIVITIES!" She looked around, but couldn't find the source of the voice at all. It seemed to be all around them.

"Freak show??" she exclaimed. "Maybe we should go check it out- I've never seen one!" She didn't really know what a freak show was, but was very tempted to join the pushy crowd to get a look. Something seemed to... compel her.

(OOC: I talked to Kamina and he said that because I had it up to post it, hopefully the game starts fully again)



Amera and Lore:

Lore saw the look on her sister’s face and knew she was recalling that time when they were all they had left. She could faintly hear Amera then apologize to David for keeping Jade close to the fire,

What about one of the coordinators? They could have tracked me down! David had sounded angry and Lore was almost ready to snap back at the man, even if she could understand the panic he had. Sorry. I guess it worked.. Just be more careful next time…” Before Lore could stop Amera, her twin turned to the man and glared,

“Be more careful? I couldn’t find my sister! I get that you were worried about your daughter, and I’m grateful for you helping me out with that..” She trailed off slightly, she didn’t know the blonde girl with them so she instead picked up again at another point. “If I had gone to the coordinators, you would think they’d get to track you down? Cops David, Cops.. and I’m away from my sister..” Shaking her head Amera turns to walk away at that moment however, she heard whispers of something in her ear, Tick Tock.. Spinning around her face drained of color as Lore’s voice faded in her panic..

.. What was that all about.. Amera barely listened to the announcement of the Freak show, barely heard the blonde girl stating that they should check it out due to her not knowing what it was. A feeling of dread covered Amera and she turns to Lore,
“I don’t think we should go in there.. Lore..” It was in that moment that Lore knew that Amera was scared.. really scared.. of something in the park..

The Party: As the party had finally regrouped, and Lore started to worry about Amera, the crowd surged forward catching everyone with it. Within minutes they had been pushed from the Ferris Wheel closer and closer to the Big Top tent in the center of the park. As they drew nearer to the tent, they couldn't help but notice the sky grow darker and more ominous.

As the crowd pushed forward once more, the party was swept inside the tent and dragged in to the bleachers. Once the energy in the tent died down and everyone was seated a single light came on in the center of the tent. In the spotlight stood a tall man dressed all in black, Amera and Jade immediately recognized as the one who gave them the black roses earlier in the night. Raising his hands, he dropped a black cloak from his shoulders and spoke with a loud and booming voice. "WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE DARK CARNIVAL'S ONE AND ONLY FREAK SHOW. PLEASE SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE WORLD'S MOST HORREDNOUS SITES. TREMBLE IN FEAR, QUAKE IN AGONY, WATCH AS THE FREAK'S COME TO LIFE!" As his voice stopped, the light suddenly shut off and the whole tent was left in the dark. Murmurs could be heard among the crowd as people talked amongst themselves about what they may see. The party sat together blind in the dark and unsure of what would happen next. Jade clung to Amera while they sat.

As soon as the man came on, Amera froze in fear, the riddle came to her mind, unsolved.. not that she would pay much attention to trying to solve the damn thing. As soon as the lights went off she felt arms grasping her. Fearing the worst Amera quickly spoke to her sister, “Lore, please … can… can I?” Sensing the hidden fear within her younger sister she spoke calmly, “Do it.” Amera was quick to fish her lighter from her pocket and flicked it on, squinting her eyes at the sudden brightness she looks around, Jade was the one grasping her, clinging to her in fear, getting her arm out of the child’s grasp she wraps her arm around Jade pulling her close.
Lore watches the fear in her sister’s eyes increase. Never before had her sister been so afraid. She didn’t even think her sister’s beloved flames were going to calm her down. A smile however, formed on Lore’s lips seeing Amera pull the child closer as they waited to see what else this Freak Show had to offer them.