You initiate a manual memory freeze, stabilizing the fractured vision of the black case. The alleyway scene holds in suspended animation as you lean closer to the trembling Tanaka. 'Before we proceed,' you say carefully, 'I need you to focus on the woman with amber eyes. What comes to mind when you see her?'

A violent shudder runs through Tanaka's body in both the memoryscape and reality. His younger self's fingers tighten around the case as his lips form silent words. The real Tanaka's voice emerges hoarse and broken: 'She...she wasn't human. The eyes...they changed color based on...on what she wanted from you.' His hand flies to his temple as if struck by sudden pain.

In the frozen memory, the amber-eyed woman's blurred edges begin resolving again. You notice now how her shadow stretches unnaturally long behind her, twisting like living smoke. The younger Tanaka's expression shifts from curiosity to dawning horror as the case in his hands starts emitting a high-pitched whine. The real Tanaka suddenly arches backward in his chair, veins standing out along his throat as he gasps: 'The price! They never told us about the price!'