“Zaniel!” I run to him, shake him. He’s warm, thank God. I shake him harder. “Zaniel. What the hell are you doing here? Come on, get up. Get up.”

He rolls over, onto his back. Something flutters onto the floor from his hand. A postcard? I pick it up off my boot. “What is this …? Lake Biwa?”

“Baku,” he murmurs. “Baku … kurae …”

I shake myself to attention and kneel over Zaniel. “I don’t understand. What …?”

“Akumu … akumu …”

I know that word. Hitomu’s word. Nightmares. “Don’t worry. I’m getting help.” I turn to my phone and start to dial 119.

“No,” Zaniel grabs my arm. His eyes are still closed. “No police … Cybelle … the akumu …”

“What?” I don’t get it. “Ugh. Forget it, then. I’ll get you out myself.” Again, I thank God for this phone. According to Google Maps there’s a hospital nearby, less than ten minutes away on foot. I need to get him there, but how?

Something catches the corner of my eye. I look at the bedside table again. There’s a conbini bag with more takeout containers and a bottle of what looks like Pocari Sweat. Has he been living down here? Why? And for how long? And why? I poke at the bag. There are some things behind it. I move the handles of the plastic bag away. An iPhone, a silver watch, a burlap sack, two bracelets, and a box. The air shudders a little. It’s a box of mochi, bright yellow balls. Almost shiny. Five of them in a container meant for six. They look delicious.

Oh my GOSH, Cybelle, why are you thinking about food at a time like this?

“Okay, Zaniel. Let’s get you out of here.” I roll Zaniel over, take one of his arms and wrap it around my shoulder. With my other arm I lift him up. He moans a little but doesn’t wake up. He’s heavy as hell.

“Shit.” I lie him back down. There’s no way I can get him out of here on my own. Not that I have a choice. I look at the box of mochi again. Why are they so yellow? Are they lemon-flavoured or something? What could be inside it? It can’t be ice cream. Red bean, maybe? “You don’t look like ice cream …”

Something whimpers above me. My head snaps up. The only thing there is the ceiling light. It’s flickering. Triple. Shit. If it goes out, I don’t know how I’m going to manoeuvre this guy out of here in the dark. I can’t sit here thinking about food. I need to summon enough strength to carry him out of here. Preferably now.

But I am hungry.