Whilst investigating the death of a local doctor, a kind psychiatrist called Feliciano Vargas uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, tattered key circulating throughout Italy. As soon as anyone uses the keys, he or she has exactly 99 days left to live. The doomed few appear to be ordinary people during day to day life, but when photographed, they look distorted. A marked person feels like a fake flower to touch. Feliciano gets hold of the keys, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flash into his mind: a demented cat balancing on a distorted doctor, an old newspaper headline about an unfortunate accident, a hooded dog staring through legs and a gnawing on arms, and no one reacting. When Feliciano notices his hands have bird-like properties, he realises that the curse of the tattered keys is true and calls in his brother, a nurse called Lovino Vargas, to help. Lovino examines the keys and willingly submits himself to the curse. He finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. He finds the demented cat balancing on a distorted doctor particularly chilling. He joins the queue for a supernatural death. Feliciano and Lovino pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded dog. Will they be able to stop the curse before their time is up?