Mary stood up, without replying and began to follow the Professor out the mansion.  At last, their journey was underway…
     For a man in his late seventies, Professor Stonehead was a very swift walker and Mary found herself having to keep pace with him.  To make the circumstances harder, he had told her not to talk to him as he was muttering words from his book, “Revival”.   It was already getting dark just after thirty minutes after they had left the mansion.  Mary had never ventured out so far before and was relying completely on the Professor as a guide.  One hour passed by and the Professor finally stopped muttering and turned to look at Mary. 

     “You must be tired and, without queston, growing weaker.  I know this for a fact because the spirits are using a magnetic force to pull you towards them.”     “But, Professor; I don’t feel anything.”     “Precisely.  It’s not your body they’re after: it’s your soul, my dear.”  “And there’s something else.”  He pulled out his antique gold chain watch and flicked the lid open with his right thumb.       “Hmm, 2.30 p.m.  It means that within an hour, you won’t be able to eat or drink normally.  If you do, you will turn to dust.”  Mary’s eyes widened in shock.     “Professor, just listen to yourself.  This is completely absurd.  My stomach is already starting to rumble after all this walking exercise.”     “Oh, don’t worry.  I’ve got something in my red pouch that will help you to retain your energy levels.”  He then pulled out his red pouch and pulled the lace apart, digging into it.       “Ah!”  He said, pulling out a yellow crystal.  “You can feast on this.  It contains certain salts and minerals that will keep you well enough to complete our journey.”  “Here, you can take a small bite now if you like.”     Mary reluctantly took it and examined the crystal from all angles.  She then looked at the Professor and took a very small bite.      “It…it’s absolutely repulsive!  Eugghh!”  She spat it out.     “No!”  “Oh my God!, what have you done!”  Suddenly the ground where she had spat it out, began to shake and move.     “That’s it!”  Called out the Professor.  “You’ve done it now!”     Mary looked at him, in horror.     “But what have I done!?  She cried, hysterically.     Before the Professor could reply, a red slimy object began to appear, from the ground…