The Clown of Chaos

By Will Casel Brown

Can a super-villain be rehabilitated?

​Jaquan Ramirez, also known as Chaos the Clown, believes he has been and can't wait to reunite with his daughter.

His past catches up with him on the day of his release from prison, when a crime lord wants to be repaid the money he stole from him. If Jaquan doesn't return the goods, Hoss the Boss will take his daughter's life. But, if Jaquan uses his super-powers or is involved in any illegal activity, he will get sent back to jail with no chance of release ensuring that he will never see his daughter again.

Can Chaos rescue his daughter and stay out of jail? Or will he let his dark side take control?

Read the book to find out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Will Casel Brown
• Release date: Jan 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393945444

Book preview

1

Jaquan Ramirez aka Chaos the Clown had no doubt in his mind that he would never go back. Was he reformed? Nah , he would tell you. I’m just a smarter criminal. I learned, from the best of the best in those seven years behind bars. I was mentored by their success. I won’t repeat their mistakes. That’s what he would tell you.

His wife was murdered on the day of his capture leaving his seven-year-old daughter parentless. Jaquan felt fully responsible. He brought his life of crime into his house. He hurt and killed too many. He could rationalize the deaths and his actions in a thousand ways, but in the end, it would merely be lip-service. He wife was dead, and his daughter had grown into a beautiful little girl without him. He truly was sorry.

Well, boys, he said smiling at the guards lining the walkway known as The Hall of Freedom. It was nice while it lasted. No hard feelings? he said with a wink to Buchowski, one of the many guards he tussled with during his early years. Buchowski only glared at him.

The authorities could not neutralize his powers. There was no cure. They could, however, ensure that he didn’t have the opportunity to exploit them. Chaos was a Talismaster, a super who needs an object to initiate power. He had super-strength, but his real power, his chaos, came from an external source. His wing of the prison had been built specifically to ensure he had no access.

I’m rehabilitated, he said to no one in particular, to all of them at once, but mostly to himself as he felt the itch to exploit his power for the first time in years. His smile faded as moved closer to the end of the hallway. There, at the far end, stood Flame the super-soldier.

Flame stood a half a foot taller than the tallest guard and was all muscle. A black mask covering his eyes contrasted against his brown, shaved head.

I see the Agency updated your uniform, Jaquan said smiling. Must be nice to be fully funded by the government.

I’d say it was good to see you again, Flame said with a smile. But, I’d be lying. He stepped forward and extended his hand.

Jaquan looked down at it and then back up to Flame before taking it and giving a solid handshake. Memories flooded in.

You helped put me in here, and now you’re here to meet me on the way out. He laughed and forced a smile.

I'm here to make sure you understand the rules, Flame said, but to Jaquan his eyes said something different.

Rules? he said raising his eyebrows and stifling a laugh. What may I ask are the rules of freedom?

They're pretty basic actually, he said motioning towards a door behind them. Don't be evil.

Jaquan narrowed his eyes, not sure how to take such a statement. It ticked him off more than anything.

Evil? Really, Flame?

Evil. You know, killing people, stealing cars, using your powers for anything other than the good of humanity.

At this, he laughed. A laugh that could be categorized as evil by any that heard it. The laugh that haunted many before. Jaquan noticed a shift and a tensing of the stance of those around him.

Your daughter is being flown into town and will be here this afternoon.

The laughter cut off as if his throat was slit and Jaquan swayed a little in disbelief.

Victoria? It was the first time he'd spoken her name in years though he thought about her every second he was in prison. She was the reason he was still alive. She was the reason he agreed to play the silly mental games the psychiatrists insisted he played. She is the reason that he became reformed and rehabilitated and fit for release.

She's a good kid, Jaquan.

He turned his face toward him.

How would you know that? Jaquan said stepping towards him. He ignored the cocking of weapons and the movement of the guards around him. Flame did not move though. Jaquan thought he saw guilt in his eyes.

I’ve been assigned as a Watchman to your daughter while you’ve been away.

A what?

A Watchman. The Agency assigns someone on the project to be a guardian to the family of convicted supers to ensure no harm comes to them. You know...for revenge.

He would be grateful, but the fact remained that he should be the one watching over his