How Long Is The Night?

"Okay," Sofia says and Iñaki can't read her expression.

Sofia blinks, looks down at her plate again and shuffles her feet under the table, brings a spoonful of puree to her mouth. In her mind, however, Iñaki's words are settling like a tan that in a few days will be on the surface.

"What a curious little girl!" Maria intercedes.

But Sofia has already disconnected and does not need incentives to decorate her lips and cheeks with food.

The food disappears from the plates and the conversation from the lips. Iñaki sits there while the rest prepare to look for Víctor.

"Okay, are we ready?" asks Eduardo.

The others nod.

"Let's go. Iñaki, it would be a good idea if you went to sleep."

"Ok."

"Good night, Sofia."

The girl doesn't flinch.

"Rambo, take care of them..."

"Wof!"

The door closes and Iñaki remains contemplating nothing at the same time that he caresses Sofia's hair. A parade of thoughts passes through his mind, but he can't make out any of them. They mix infected, with relatives, with memories that he does not know if they are true. In short, a cloud crosses her mind and watches her advance without understanding it.

Suddenly a lightning bolt pierces the cloud. Then another. Iñaki takes a hand to his forehead. Sofia and Rambo have fallen asleep.

The lighting is a sound. But it's not in his mind. That's the door. Somebody open it.

"Martina!"

Victor enters the apartment and his eyes, like two coals, settle on Iñaki.

"You!"

A rope dangles from his left wrist and his face is dotted with bruises.

"Victor!"

"Where's Martina?" he asks hoarsely.

"Looking for you…Where were you?"

Rambo has woken up and is looking at the rope in a daze. Sofia continues to sleep.

"Looking for me..." he replies with an animal grimace. "Martina!"

Meanwhile, at the door that faces the street...

The figure approaches the door like a cat at night. Puts the key in the lock and opens the door.

"Get inside."

…

"Where were you?"

"Where's Martina?"

The shadows give way to a group of people. The figure leads the procession. A man crosses their path.

"Stop it! Who are you?" the man insists.

The figure raises a gun and aims.

"Who are you?" the man insists.

The figure removes the hood.

"You left her alone, asshole," Victor roars. She tricked you, didn't she?

"What do you mean?"

"She tried with me, too," he adds with exorbitant eyes, "but she didn't succeed. That's why I kept her close..."

"You're lying…"

"That bitch has met someone behind our back," the rope swings with his words. "I've seen her with my own eyes, I've followed her!"

"What did you see?"

"I saw..." he says, searching for the images in his mind, "I saw her carrying part of our provisions to a man. I was following her, investigating, but you..."

Iñaki's mind spins like an out-of-control plane.

"Where's Martina?"

A shadow moves behind Victor.

"Where's Martina?" The rope on his wrist moves like a snake.

The shadow enlarges at Victor's feet.

"Here."

Iñaki blinks at the noise and the smell of gunpowder enters his lungs. A red stain appears on Victor's shirt and spreads across his torso. His eyes go blank and he falls forward. Rambo howls, hurting his ears. Sofia wakes up with a scream.

Behind Víctor, the figure of Cristina holds the gun. A bitter smile appears on the lips that Iñaki has kissed.

"Hi, honey."

Martina bends down and takes the rope.

"I see you've escaped...a pity."

Martina stands up again with the rope and the gun in her hands.

"We need to talk..."