We walked in silence for a while, the hallucinations continuing to swirl around us. As we ventured deeper into the pillar labyrinth, the whispers grew louder, filling our ears with a cacophony of voices. I felt a growing sense of urgency, as if we were running out of time.

Finally, after what felt like hours, we saw something in the distance. A faint glow pierced the darkness, drawing us forward like a beacon. As we approached, the source of the light became clear: a massive vault door, its surface cold and imposing. Behind it loomed a giant silhouette with glowing eyes, like a guardian of some forbidden secret. 

Maude and I exchanged a glance, our earlier tension momentarily forgotten. We had found something ─ something that could hold the answers we were looking for.

That's it, Maude said, her voice filled with awe. That's the source of the ping.

I nodded, my heart pounding with fear. Let's find out what it is.

As we continued walking, the hallucinations grew more intense. I saw flashes of my parents' faces, their eyes filled with concern and love. I heard their voices, urging me to be cautious, to question everything. The sound of their voices felt like a warm hug. Like I was kid again, like everything was fine and nothing bad ever happened. But, the weight of their warnings pressed down on me, reminding me of why I am here.

Maude seemed lost in her own thoughts, her steps growing more hesitant. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the struggle to reconcile her past with her present. I wanted to reach out, to offer comfort, but I knew she needed to find her own way.

We walked in silence for a while longer, the concrete pillars looming above us like ancient sentinels. The whispers of the past grew fainter, replaced by a sense of anticipation. We were getting closer, glowing eyes of the silhouette growing larger with each step. 

I felt a surge of determination, the need to uncover the truth driving me forward. I glanced at Maude, seeing the same resolve in her eyes. We were in this together, bound by our shared quest for answers.

As we approached the vault door, the air grew thick with tension. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, a mixture of fear and excitement coursing through my veins. The silhouette resolved into a massive mechanical being made of metal, its eyes glowing ominously, an almost malevolent presence.

This is so creepy, she whispered, her voice barely audible. But it will give us answers.

I nodded, my eyes fixed on the tall figure.

Together, we stepped forward, but in a single moment a surge of energy coursed through us, filling our minds with images and memories. Some familiar, some belonging to strangers. Memories of happiness and of struggle. Some made on the day NeoTokyo fell. Terror and dread, hysteria in the streets, loved ones dying. But I still don't understand, and I think they didn't know either. All those lives lost, and they didn't even know what was happening.

Whatever was in here, held all the answers. And we were not leaving without them.

As the visions faded, Maude and I exchanged a glance, our earlier tension replaced by a sense of unity.

Are you ready? I asked, with the entrance to the vault staring back at us.