The air in the café was heavy, as if each passing second was being compressed into a weight too immense to bear. Alison's gaze remained fixed on the photo on the table, the image of her mother smiling beside a stranger, a photo she had never seen before. Who was that man? Why was her mother connected to him? More importantly, how did Max know about the existence of this photo?
"What do you know?" Alison stared intensely at Max, her voice low and tinged with urgency.
Max didn't immediately respond. Instead, he took a sip of his coffee, seemingly accustomed to this quiet waiting. After a few seconds, he spoke. "The 'Echo' organization—maybe you've heard of it. It's an underground hacker group specializing in memory manipulation, data control, and even using memory implantation technology to control people's behavior. Simply put, they don't just steal memories; they can create 'false' memories and manipulate human consciousness."
Alison's head was spinning. "Memory implantation? Controlling people's behavior?" She whispered these words, a growing sense of uncontrollable fear rising within her. "This… this can't be real. What are you talking about?"
"I understand you don't want to believe it," Max looked up, his eyes piercing through the table as he stared at her, "but it's the truth. 'Echo' is not just a cybercriminal group; there's a much larger force behind it than anyone could imagine. Before your mother died, she seemed to have uncovered their secret. Some of her final actions suggest she had contact with 'Echo.' The car accident you remember may have just been their way of covering up the truth."
"What do you mean?" Alison stood up, her face paling. Her voice was almost unrestrained as she asked, "Are you saying my mother's death was a lie? Are you saying she was murdered?"
Max lowered his cup and set it down, his tone turning even more somber. "I don't have proof of that, but your mother didn't die in that car accident. Everything about it was fabricated. Your memory... has been altered."
Alison's hands unconsciously gripped the back of her chair. She knew Max's words were too heavy to simply digest. But there was a voice inside her mind, a voice of defiance—how could her mother's car accident, the memories she held so dearly, possibly be fake?
"Why are you saying this?" Her voice became hoarse. "If my mother's death was really suspicious, why don't I remember anything about it?"
Max's gaze finally met hers, his eyes filled with a complex mixture of helplessness and sorrow. "Memory implantation technology can not only alter past experiences but can also create new memories without you even realizing it. Your mother's death was just a means to cover up the truth. The real cause of her death is probably deeply connected to the 'Echo' organization."
Alison was frozen. She couldn't imagine that her mother had anything to do with such a dark organization. The memories she'd relied on all her life now felt so unreal, like they were slipping through her fingers.
"Are you saying this is… something out of a science fiction novel?" She forced a bitter laugh and shook her head. "You're joking, right?"
Max stood up and extended his hand toward her. "No. Things are far more complicated than you think. If you're willing, I can show you some of the things your mother left behind. Maybe then you'll understand. I know you don't want to believe it, but time is running out. 'Echo's' influence has already spread through every corner of society."
Alison hesitated, then took a deep breath. She knew she could no longer avoid it. Her mother's death, or rather the car accident she remembered, had become an unsolvable mystery.
"Alright." She finally nodded, picking up her bag from the table. "I'll go with you."
---
They drove to an abandoned warehouse district, the surroundings desolate and silent. It was clear that the area had been abandoned for years, with no sign of life. Max led Alison into an old building, where dust and mildew filled the air. She followed closely behind him, her mind filled with tension and unease.
"What is this place?" She asked, her voice trembling.
"It's a hidden base of 'Echo,'" Max said, his tone devoid of any emotional fluctuation. "This was where your mother had one of her secret meetings with 'Echo.' She discovered their memory manipulation technology and planned to expose the truth, but... she was eventually forced to give up."
They arrived at a shabby office, where Max opened an unassuming cabinet to reveal a hidden safe. The safe's combination didn't seem complicated. Max quickly typed in a few numbers, effortlessly unlocking it.
Inside were stacks of documents, and besides a few files, there were several electronic storage devices—likely hard drives or data cards. Max pulled out one of the files and handed it to Alison.
"These are the documents your mother left behind," he said, his voice calm. "She tried to leak 'Echo's' secrets to the outside world, but she was constantly being tracked. She even thought about calling the police, but by that point, 'Echo' had already infiltrated part of the police force."
Alison flipped through the documents, her fingers trembling slightly. The files detailed the origins of 'Echo,' their technology, and how they manipulated human memories to control society and individuals. She began to understand—her world, the one she had known, had been quietly controlled by this organization.
Her heart sank, and a photo she had never seen before surfaced in her mind—a group of people in black suits standing together, smiling with her mother. On the back of the photo, the words "Echo Members" were written.
"What... what is this?" Alison whispered, her fingertips brushing over the photo.
"This is the true face of 'Echo,'" Max stepped closer, speaking in a low voice. "Your mother's death is connected to these people. Her death wasn't just an accident; it was a carefully orchestrated silencing act."
Alison raised her head, determination flashing in her eyes. "I don't believe my mother just died like that. I will find the truth, no matter the cost."
Max looked at her, slowly nodding. "This is the path you need to take, Alison. Now, we have enough evidence. The next step is whether you're willing to uncover all the secrets."