Book 54

Whilst investigating the death of a local Theater Manager, a Depressed Student called Hatty Hattington uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, Bloody Scissors circulating throughout Gakko High School. As soon as anyone uses the Scissors, he or she has exactly 13 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 Deserted Cat to touch.

Hatty gets hold of the Scissors, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flash into his mind: a Snowy Flamingo balancing on a Slimy Theater Manager, an old newspaper headline about an Unfortunate accident, a hooded Dog ranting about Hands and a drinking well located in a Dark place.

When Hatty notices his Eyes have Cat-like properties, he realises that the curse of the Bloody Scissors is true and calls in his dating, a CCIT called Pinku Sekai, to help.

Pinku examines the Scissors and willingly submits herself to the curse. She finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. She finds the Snowy Flamingo balancing on a Slimy Theater Manager particularly chilling. She joins the queue for a supernatural death.

Hatty and Pinku 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?