Michael remained standing in front of the two.
The kitchen was in silence.
Cleusa observed that man with an expression of distrust, while Rafael kept the gaze fixed on him, trying to understand how someone could remain so calm in that situation.
But Michael did not demonstrate fear, nor hesitation.
Only observed.
It was Rafael who took the initiative.
He advanced first, taken by the rage, while Cleusa took advantage of the moment to approach by the other side.
The two believed that, together, they would get to dominate Michael.
But they did not understand one thing.
Michael was not reacting.
He was analyzing, each movement, each intention, and
each mistake.
When Rafael tried to hit him, Michael deviated with a precise movement, making that the attack lost completely the target.
In the same instant, he utilized the own impulse of Rafael against him, redirecting the movement to the side where Cleusa was.
The lady tried to react, but it was already late.
The blow ended up hitting his own companion of confrontation.
— Grandma! — Rafael shouted, surprised with what had happened.
Cleusa, irritated and confused, tried to answer immediately, advancing against Michael.
But he again remained calm.
Waited the right moment.
Deviated.
And made that the movement of her ended up hitting Rafael.
The two lost the balance and fell.
The environment, that already was taken by the tension, got even more unstable.
During the fall, some objects were displaced and the situation left completely of the control.
The smell of gas began to spread through the environment.
Cleusa tried to get up, still confused with the speed and precision of Michael.
Rafael also tried to recover the balance.
But, in the middle of the movement, the chaos took account of the kitchen.
A flame near entered in contact with the curtain, and rapidly the fire began to spread.
The light of the flames illuminated the face of the three.
Michael remained stopped.
While Cleusa and Rafael perceived the gravity of the situation, he only observed.
Some seconds passed.
Then Rafael stared at Michael.
Even on the floor, there was still rage in his eyes.
— You...
The voice of him came out trembling.
— You really are going to do that?
Michael did not answer.
Rafael breathed with difficulty.
— You are going to simply let two people die?
The silence remained.
— And still think that you are different from us?
Michael looked at him.
His expression continued completely neutral.
— Yes.
Rafael got surprised with the answer.
— How?
Michael gave some slow steps through the environment.
— Because there is a difference between us.
Rafael laughed in a weak form, without believing.
— Difference?
Michael looked at the two.
— You did all this because you chose.
The voice of him was calm.
— You hurt innocent people because you wanted.
Cleusa observed in silence.
Michael continued:
— You did not think about the consequences.
He made a brief pause.
— Only about what they would gain with that.
Rafael squeezed the eyes.
— And you?
Michael stayed some seconds in silence.
Then answered:
— I choose what to do with that I find.
The answer left the two in silence.
There was no rage in the voice of him, nor pleasure.
Only a cold certainty.
Cleusa stared at Michael with a mixture of fear and indignation.
— You really believe that you are right?
Michael looked at her.
— I believe that some people should not continue having the opportunity of destroying others.
The flames continued growing around.
The sound of the fire filled the house.
Cleusa remained looking at that man.
And finally understood.
Michael was not trying to seem a hero.
He knew exactly what he was.
— You are a monster... — said Cleusa in a low tone, while her voice carried fear.
Michael stayed stopped for some seconds.
Then answered calmly:
— Yes, more different from you, I do not hurt children.
The answer came without hesitation, without pride, without regret.
Only an acceptance.
Michael turned himself and walked in direction to the exit.
— Wait!
The voice of Rafael came out desperate.
But Michael did not stop, he continued walking.
Cleusa tried to call again, now without the same confidence of before.
— You cannot simply go away!
Michael crossed the door.
Before leaving completely, looked one last time at the two.
— Goodbye.
Then went away.
On the outside, Michael continued walking through the street while the sounds of desperation of Rafael and Cleusa echoed in the distance.
He did not look back.
Not because he did not hear, but because, for him, that decision already had been taken.