**Chapter 8: Unraveling the Mystery**

As we sipped our coffee, Lena began to ask me more questions, her piercing green eyes locked onto mine as if searching for any hidden truth. I tried to recall every detail, every fragment of memory that might be relevant. She listened intently, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "So, you don't remember anything about your life before... this?" she asked, her voice gentle. I shook my head, feeling a twinge of frustration. "Nothing. It's like my memories just... stopped." Lena nodded thoughtfully. "I see. And what about Echo_22? Does that name mean anything to you?" I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Lena's kind demeanor put me at ease. "I saw that name on the screen during the interview," I said. "Maya mentioned it, but I don't know what it means." Lena's eyes sparkled with interest. "Echo_22 is a handle, a username," she explained. "It's used by... a person, or a group, I'm not entirely sure. They're known for creating these... experiments, I suppose you'd call them." "Experiments?" I repeated, my mind racing. "You mean, like what happened to me?" Lena nodded. "Yes, exactly. They manipulate people's lives, put them in situations that test their limits. And then... they observe." I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Observe? You mean, like, they're watching us?" Lena leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think that's what I'm trying to tell you. You're not just a random person who ended up on live TV. You're part of one of Echo_22's experiments. And I think I might know why." She paused, studying me intently. "Do you remember anything about the hill where you were before the interview? Any details, no matter how small?" I closed my eyes, trying to recall. And then, like a flash of lightning, it came to me. "The trees," I said, my eyes snapping open. "There were trees around the hill. And a fence. A metal fence." Lena's eyes lit up. "That's it," she said. "The fence. It's a distinctive feature of the test site. I think I can take you there, show you where you were." I felt a surge of excitement mixed with trepidation. What would we find at this test site? And what did Lena mean by "the test site"? Was I ready to uncover the truth about my past, about Echo_22, and about myself? Lena seemed to sense my hesitation. "We'll go together," she said, her voice reassuring. "I'll be with you every step of the way." As I looked into her eyes, I felt a sense of trust wash over me. I nodded, and together, we set out on a journey to unravel the mystery of my past, and the sinister forces that had brought me to this point.