Iñaki blinks. Between smoke and gunpowder, he sees Martina lower the gun.
Between the smoke and gunpowder Eduardo, Mike and María enter escorted by four strangers.
"Sit down." Inaki hears Martina say.
Between smoke and gunpowder, they all sit, except Iñaki.
Between smoke and gunpowder, Iñaki sees two women and two men...
"It's time to talk," says Martina.
Suddenly, the cloud of smoke and gunpowder disperses. Iñaki takes a deep breath and is back in control of his senses.
Mike, Maria, and Eduardo are sitting in a semicircle. With one hand Mike holds Rambo close to his leg. Iñaki remains upright in the middle of the room with Sofia in his arms. In front of his companions, there are four individuals seated. The circle of strangers is complete, with Martina in the center.
Victor's blood flows to Iñaki's feet. He looks down. Martina takes a step forward. Iñaki takes his eyes off the ground and finds her. The rain cries against the window.
"He was a sadist, Iñaki," Martina says at last.
Silence.
"It was him or me, Iñaki, and you know it very well. You witnessed his tyranny, his misogyny! You helped me when I needed it and thanks to you I had a place to lock the bastard up!"
"An apartment for you alone..." says Iñaki incredulously.
"The idea wasn't that." Her gaze is unrecognizable. "But he got away and when I heard him screaming my name I knew there was no other alternative. He was a madman, an abuser, and he had the end he deserved."
"Who are these people?" Eduardo repeats the question he asked at the door.
" Martina, for God's sake!" A woman finally breaks the circle. "The little girl!" Sofia hides her face between the folds of Iñaki's sweater. "My name is Irene, I'm Martina's sister-in-law."
The woman speaks in a conciliatory tone. Martina nods.
"Okay, let's go somewhere else."
A few minutes later, in Maria's apartment...
They're all standing by the table. Nobody sits down. Iñaki doesn't see Martina's gun, but he knows she has it.
"Who... are they?" Eduardo insists.
"This is Irene, my sister-in-law," Martina says, pointing to the woman that spoke earlier. "He is my brother Juan" the man offers a half smile. "This is Eliza, his neighbor, and he's..."
Martina sets her gaze on the redheaded figure but doesn't seem to recognize him.
"Daniel," Irene adds.
The man does not flinch.
"We found him yesterday," Juan joins the conversation, "wandering the street. The poor guy is half deaf."
"We sit?" asks Martina.
Iñaki takes advantage of the general moment of uncertainty and studies, Daniel.
The young redhead is standing next to Eliza. His gaze was on the ground. A beard with few hairs covers some smallpox scars on his face. Blue eyes gaze at nothing. He doesn't seem to be more than 20. <
His clothes look dirty and neglected, and Iñaki can smell the sweat impregnated on them. His hands are also empty.
Iñaki studies his figure trying to find out if he has a gun on him, but finds nothing.
Finally, Mike takes a seat, Maria follows, then Eduardo, Juan, Eliza, Irene, Cristina, Daniel, and finally Iñaki.
The sound of the chairs against the floor gives way to Maria´s voice.
"What do you want?"
"Survive," Eliza replies, "like you."
"That's right, we want the same thing you do," Irene says. "Together we will be stronger."
"I guess Victor wanted to survive, too," Mike spits, folding his arms.
"True, Mike," Martina arches an eyebrow, "but you didn't have to survive with him. You closed your door and the day was over; I closed mine and he was behind."
"You should have let me kill him sooner!" Juan roars and the table trembles under Iñaki's elbows.
"That is behind us. Victor thought he was in control and he was wrong. Now" she summarizes after settling into her chair, "there is room for everyone, resources for everyone, I think..."
Iñaki's eyes lock with Eduardo's and he sees action on his face. His jacket wrinkles, his right arm stretches over his leg, and his gaze sticks to Martina. His right elbow flexes and his torso starts to separate from the table.
Martina noticed. She takes out her pistol.
Iñaki rushes over to Juan just as he prepares to draw his gun. Iñaki struggles with him. A chorus of screams erupts around him.
"Iñaki!" someone shouts.
Iñaki continues rolling with Juan on the ground. Rambo jumps for his heels.
"Juan!" Another scream.
Juan hands try to point the gun at him, but Iñaki's wrists block the movement and give way.
"Martina!"
"Eduardo!"
The screams echo in the living room.
Back on the ground, Juan pushes his forearms up. Iñaki pushes to the opposite side. His long arms are too powerful for him, Iñaki's biceps give way, his wrists bend and he feels the gun landing in his heart. Juan's index finger rests on the trigger.
"Enough!" calms Martina "Juan, enough!"
There, from the ground, Iñaki observes the scene: Mike, half crouched down, is one step away from him. Irene's got Rambo by the tail. Eliza and Daniel haven't moved. Maria has Sofia in her arms. Martina and Eduardo, standing like two columns, aim at each other.
"Enough!" Martina repeats.