A few years ago, when computers had advanced far enough to be able to successfully place an individual's mind in a virtual world, a governement project for behavioral sciences formed. They decided that in other people's eyes the project would be unethical, therefore keeping it secret in the eyes of the people. Choosing several unsuspected and psychological damaged (A.K.A. - schizophrenics, serial killers, psychopaths, people with psychosis) citizens they built an asylum called Adornato in a tightly secured area. THe patients however do not realize they're there.
Instead, whilst they get glimpses of doctors and nurses from time to time, they believe they're in the year 1935. Stuck in their fantasies they share with the other patients they are convinced that their reality is the only reality and because of that if they die in the virtual world they die for real. Little do they know how close they are to finding out the secret truth.