Grim Mirth: The Clown System

Jack Wilson used to make children laugh. Now, he has awakened in a stranger’s body, in a world where everything feels wrong. Every smile carries a hidden threat, and the audience never blinks. Alone—except for the eyes that never leave him — Jack is bound to a System that does not reward heroism, only emotional reactions.  Fear grants him power. Laughter sharpens it. The stronger the emotions he draws from his performances, the greater the power he gains. To survive, he must perform. But this time, he will not perform as a clown meant only to be laughed at. Behind a cold porcelain mask, he buries his old identity and gives birth to a new persona of his own choosing: Grim Mirth. A performer who carves his art from laughter and screams. He will turn their reactions into something… useful. And in doing so, he will become something no one ever expected. The stage is set. The audience is waiting. Let the performance begin.