Hours later, Elizabeth flew home on her staff. She had a long day at work and just wanted to relax for the rest of the day. She walked up to the front door and opened it. She walked inside and checked to see if Philip was in his study. He wasn't in there...but she noticed a recently used cup. Whatever was in it smelled pretty bad. What is this for?

She walked out into the living room. He wasn't there either. She went to sit on the couch...but noticed that there was some sort of dark brown substance on it...like...mud or something...

"Philip...are you here?"

Elizabeth didn't hear anything. She went to go into the bathroom, but the door was locked. Is he in there? She knocked on the door.

"Don't come in...please..."

"Philip, what's wrong? You're starting to worry me." Something about his voice seems...off...

"I made a terrible mistake...I should have listened to you..."

"What do you mean?" She suddenly had a realization. "No...you didn't..."

"I'm so sorry...it worked at first...I looked so much younger..."

"I'm coming in..."

"No! Please! I don't want you to see me like this!"

Elizabeth used her spare key to unlock the door. She gently opened the door and peeked inside. She saw a figure in the corner.

"Philip?"

She went to touch his shoulder. It felt...wet...she reviled in horror as Philip turned his head. She let out a blood curdling scream and ran.

"Elizabeth, wait!"

She ran upstairs to find Alexander in his room.

"Mom, what's going on?! I heard you screaming!"

"We're leaving! Now!"

"What?! Tell me what hap..."

Alexander saw something behind her and was frozen in fear. Elizabeth turned around and let out another scream as she fell to the floor.

"Elizabeth, please! It's me!"

"No! You can't be Philip!"

Alexander had a look of terror on his face. "D...dad?"

"Son, please! You know it's me!"

Alexander stared at the creature and slowly walked forward.

"No! Don't go near it!"

Alexander didn't listen. He looked into the eyes of the creature that stood in front of them. Is that really dad? "How did this happen?"

Philip hung his head in shame. "I should've listened to your mother..."

Elizabeth slowly got up. Still trembling, she came closer. She saw his eyes. They were the same blue color as Philip's.

"No..."

She began to realize that the monster that stood before her really was Philip, and that he had been cursed...

"I'm so sorry, Elizabeth..."

Elizabeth, with tears in her eyes, couldn't say anything. She just fell to her knees, sobbing.

Philip suddenly felt something. Some sort of pain rushed through his entire body and he writhed in agony.

"Gah!"

"Philip, what's wro..."

Her words were cut short as Philip's monstrous arm came towards her, pushing her onto the ground, leaving mud on her chest.

"No! Why did I...gah!"

Elizabeth got up and readied her staff. She didn't want to kill him...she just needed to distract the beast long enough for Alexander to escape.

"Go! Now!"

"But mom..."

"There's no time!"

The beast lunged towards Elizabeth as Alexander ran down the stairs. He ran as fast as he could to his grandmother's house and frantically knocked on the door.

"Hold up, I'm coming!" Edith yelled from inside the house. She opened the door to a shaken Alexander. "Alexander, what's wrong?"

Philip kept lunging toward Elizabeth. He doesn't recognize me in this state...she kept trying to avoid getting slashed by the beast.

"Philip, stop! Please!"

Philip slashed her arm and she cried in pain, but she stood her ground. He lunged at her again and she got out of the way and she used her staff to create an illusion wall of fire. The beast jumped back, startled, as Elizabeth ran out of the house.

Elizabeth soon met up with Edith and Alexander outside.

"Let me handle this..." Edith said.

Edith ran into the house. She confronted the creature inside. He lunged toward her, but she was ready. She used her staff to create a binding spell that held Philip in place. With nowhere to go, Philip struggled and made monstrous sounds.

"That thing is Philip? What happened to him?" Edith was shaken, but alright.

"He did some sort of spell that was supposed to make him live forever...he found this book, and...I told him not to do it, but..." Elizabeth was in tears.

"Let me see it..."

Elizabeth went to grab the book from the study and gave it to Edith. Edith studied the page.

"Well, is there a way to cure him?"

"I...don't know...I've never seen anything like this...a spell like this should've worked as planned, but...something must've gone terribly wrong. I'd need to take this home with me and study it further. Maybe I can find an answer."