Tattoos are more than just symbols. Those who know what to look for can see a secret language of magical markings on people's skin. Nick, a suicidal alcoholic, has an encyclopedic knowledge of tattoos. However, after encountering a mysterious man called The Painter who inflicts pain through tattoos imbued with supernatural energy, Nick discovers hidden horrors in body art that even he is unprepared for. The promise of finding meaning in suffering is alluring at first, but when The Painter kidnaps a little girl, Nick is shocked, awake to the grim reality of genuine torment. Thus, he must journey into a mystical underworld rife with magic, mutilation and pain, in the hope of putting a stop to The Painter and saving the girl. The ruination of flesh fuels his foes. But Nick is no stranger to self-destruction.