The children were told to go to the assembly hall — they were supposed to be told something important there. The children headed that way, exchanging glances and whispering about the same thing.
— Maybe they'll let us go home?..
— That would be nice...
But as soon as they entered the hall, that hope began to fade.
They were told to sit in their places and wait.
The light grew softer. Warmer. Slightly dimmer than it should have been.
And then the music began.
At first — almost inaudible. A thin, viscous melody, like a drop of honey slowly sliding down glass. It wrapped around them, slipping into their ears, their thoughts, their breathing.
The music seemed to whisper:
don't resist… stay… it's calm here… it's good here…
The children from "Awakening Tulips" sat tense at first. Their shoulders were raised, their fingers clenched.
But the music didn't pressure — it persuaded.
Gradually, their backs relaxed.
Their fingers unclenched.
Their breathing became even… the same…
Elizabeth slowly rested her head on Vlad's shoulder, not even realizing it.
Kirill quietly lay down on Sasha's lap, as if it had always been that way.
Denis didn't notice how his head tilted onto Alex's shoulder.
Alex blinked once… and didn't pull away.
Instead — he leaned a little closer.
The music grew deeper.
Warmer.
Sweeter.
Endless.
By the middle of it, the children's lips parted slightly. Their gazes dimmed, yet there was a strange softness in them, almost happiness.
— Such… beautiful music… — Rio whispered, as if afraid to scare it away.
— Yes… it's… very beautiful… — Emil replied barely audibly.
Their voices were slow, as if the words had to pass through thick syrup.
The children's eyes began to change.
At first — barely noticeable.
Their pupils trembled.
The outlines blurred.
Then — deeper.
Inside their eyes, spirals slowly began to form. Smooth, careful, almost mesmerizingly beautiful. They rotated slower… deeper… pulling the gaze inward.
No one noticed it.
No one wanted to notice.
The music rose higher.
The note — clearer.
The light — softer.
The thoughts — quieter.
And at that moment, the spirals in their eyes completed their full circle.
The children inhaled at the same time…
And slowly stood up.
Not one of them looked at another.
Not one asked a question.
They simply walked toward the exit.
In sync.
Quietly.
Obediently.
The counselors were already waiting behind the doors.
— Well, children, we'll have to say goodbye, — they said softly. — You are moving to the "Awakening Roses." There will be new counselors there. And the children from there will move to the "Scarlet Poppies."
The children stopped.
Their faces were calm. Too calm.
They hugged the counselors — slowly, carefully, almost identically.
— We will miss you very much… — they said in empty, even voices.
— We will miss you too, — the counselors replied, smiling.
Alex stepped forward and held out the drawings.
— These are for you…
His voice was quiet, but there was still something alive in it.
The counselors smiled and kissed the top of his head.
— Thank you, Alex.
The children turned and went to collect their things.
Their steps were even.
Their movements — precise.
No unnecessary words.
When they entered the new rooms, something changed.
The music was no longer playing.
The silence was sharp. Almost cold.
And as if with a snap — their eyes became normal.
The children froze.
Someone blinked.
Someone took a sharp breath.
Someone looked around.
But the feeling… remained.
In the room, a new uniform was already laid out — the "Awakening Roses."
The children silently looked at it.
They felt sorry to take off the "Awakening Tulips" uniform.
Too sorry.
But for some reason… no one argued.
They changed.
Lay down in their beds.
And without discussing what had happened, they almost simultaneously closed their eyes.
— Tomorrow we'll meet the new counselors… — someone said quietly in the darkness.
No one answered.
But everyone heard.
And everyone… agreed.