Horror story
Whilst investigating the death of a local doctor, an optimistic computer programmer called Lauren Barker uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, tiny ruler circulating throughout Devon. As soon as anyone uses the ruler, he or she has exactly 29 days left to live.
The doomed few appear to be ordinary people during day to day life, but when photographed, they look skeletal. A marked person feels like an urban gerbil to touch.
Lauren gets hold of the ruler, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flash into her mind: an important aardvark balancing on a derelict doctor, an old newspaper headline about a drunk driving accident, a hooded hamster ranting about toes and a drinking well located in a sunny place.
When Lauren notices her moles have gerbil-like properties, she realises that the curse of the tiny ruler is true and calls in her aunt, a actor called Annie Giantbulb, to help.
Annie examines the ruler and willingly submits herself to the curse. She finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. She finds the important aardvark balancing on a derelict doctor particularly chilling. She joins the queue for a supernatural death.
Lauren and Annie pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded hamster. Will they be able to stop the curse before their time is up?