Page 44 of The Opening Act is Death

•Escapist:Didn’t make a deal The Carnival chose him. He’s a wildcard.

•Marionettist:Traded his heartbeat for control.

•Mirror Maiden:Looked into the wrong mirror and never got out.

•Twins:Were born conjoined, sold for freak show fame. Killed the man who owned them. The Carnival took over.

•Fire breather:Burned down a church as a child. Carnival raised him in flame.

VI. EMOTIONAL RULES OF THE TENT

The tent is sentient. It feeds on emotion — especially:

•Fear= fuel

•Lust= heat

•Grief= control

•Love= chaos

Sixty Two

CARNIVAL GAMES

Sideshow Row promises laughter, but it always ends in screams:

•Spin the Coffin Wheel: Win your wish. Or your death.

•Deadman’s Guessing Booth: Guess what’s in the box. It’s always alive. Sometimes it’s you.

•The Memory Hook: Pull a ribbon. Relive your worst night. The crowdlovesthat one.

THE CROWD

They never speak. But theydecide everything.

If they love you, they cry blood.

If they hate you, you vanish — not just from the tent, but from memory.

Even your own.

And sometimes, they follow you to your dreams.

Clapping. Always clapping.

Even when you’re alone.

Sixty Three

CHARACTER INFO— Visha & Corvan

Visha (Madame Noire)

•Real Name:Visha Navarre

•Role:Ballerina Ringmaster, Blade Dancer, Executioner