Ok the design might change over time but like lowk I had a good concept I think

So basically my infected isnt actually the real host, but its kinda like an imposter, the virus thingy latched onto Phoenic and basically js killed him from the inside out, and copied his dna to make a replica of him. There’s still some small visual hints that its a fake, but the real hint is the texture of him. The entity is trying to replicate every last part of how he looks, but cant get how he feels, so the texture of his “hood” and “hair” actually feels identical to skin.

If you are fooled by this imposter or it js feels like it, he will reveal his true self, the actual “monster” form.

(Also yes the real Phoenic is js dead in the woods or sum)