Part 1: Video Diaries

February 14th, 1996

"Hello my name is Simon Petrikov," I said to the camera lens.

"I never thought I could loose my mind. I had a good future ahead of me. A job, a house, and a fiancé made it all possible. Losing these things would surely destroy me. That was just what happened.

I was a scientist, the best of the 18th century. I uncovered so much, yet in the end it all amounted to nothing.

I found it in the Himalayas, a ruby incrusted crown, just like I had dreamed about. I took it back to my lab. I was finding the height of Everest, the tallest mountain in this region. I speculated it, this regal crown, putting it on my head.

The next thing I knew, my co-scientist, Henry, stared at me in horror. I was confused. What had happened? I still do not know. What I do know is that a week later, I was told to clear my office.

I took the crown with me, and it is my biggest regret.

Penny was very kind. We were still betrothed, and she didn't waver for a second when I told her what had happened.

We ended up in a small town beside the Himalayas, ironically.

She asked how I lost my job.

"I just put the crown on, the next thing I knew, Henry was on the floor." I sighed.

"Crown?" she implored.

"Just this I picked up," I said, jokingly putting it on my head.

Then things went dark, and I woke up to the sound of her screaming.

I was confused. What had I done?

She left the next day. I asked her repeatedly what had happened, but she just looked at me with such contempt. I to this day do not know what I said.

Years after she left, I had a job as a miner. It was gritty work, slow and unrewarding, but I stayed with it. I felt tied to these mountains, like some sort of destiny awaited me. Whatever harsh job came to pass, I took."

March 4th, 2060

I sat at the window as the camera whirred to life, and as I spoke, I stared down at my long, cold fingers.

"I am feeling the physical effects now. My skin, as you can see, is turning blue, my hair white. I have grown a beard and its growth is uncontrollable. This town has become a wreck, as this is the harshest winter it has had in years. I'm really scared."

July 4th, 2102

The cellar of my small cottage clicked to life, and I tossed back my snowy hair and stared into the red light.

"The bombs are everywhere. I can feel them hit the mountains and send snow down their faces. It hurts. I haven't aged, and should be an elderly man by now- a dead man. Everyone in town is dead. No one could escape because of the blizzard. I'm beginning to think . . . I caused this.

If someone just watch over me until I work through this labyrinth in my mind, and maybe Betty, my princess, will forgive me! Please forgive me" I wailed.

Then the camera ran out of battery, leaving me alone forever.