Ab Aeterno

Tenerife. 1867. Ricardo. A simple man. His wife, Isabella, is dying. Tuberculosis. Ricardo gallops to the doctor. The doctor refuses to come. Ricardo begs him. A scuffle. The doctor falls. Cracks his skull. Ricardo takes the medicine and leaves. Too late. Isabella is dead. Ricardo is arrested for murder.

In prison, a priest visits him. Ricardo asks for absolution. The priest refuses. "What you have done cannot be forgiven." Ricardo is sold as a slave. Aboard a ship. The Black Rock.

Storm at sea. The Black Rock crashes on the island. Through the statue of Taweret. The officers kill the slaves. The smoke monster kills the officers. Ricardo is the sole survivor. Chained. Alone. For days.

The Man in Black comes to see him. In the form of Isabella. Then in his true form. He tells him: "You are in hell. But I can help you. Kill the devil." The devil is Jacob. The Man in Black gives him a knife.

Ricardo attacks Jacob. Jacob neutralizes him. Easily. Then he explains. The island is a cork. A bottle. Evil is trapped inside. If the cork pops, evil spreads. Jacob is the guardian. He brings people to the island to prove that man is good. The Man in Black thinks otherwise.

Jacob offers Ricardo a choice. "I cannot bring back your wife. I cannot absolve your sins. But I can make it so you never die." Ricardo accepts. Richard Alpert is born. 150 years of service. Without a wrinkle. Never understanding the plan. Until now.