All night long, the music played. It didn't disturb the children — quite the opposite, it wrapped them in a soft, lingering calm, like a warm blanket they didn't want to leave. The sounds were barely noticeable, almost like a whisper, yet there was a strange power in them — as if they weren't just heard, but seeped inside, into thoughts, into memory, into the very will.
When the children woke up, the morning felt surprisingly light. No one was tired, no one yawned. They calmly got dressed and left their rooms, not thinking about what they had forgotten.
They didn't remember how Denis had quietly rested his head on Alex's shoulder during the night.
They didn't remember how Kirill had curled up on Sasha's knees like a small child.
They didn't remember anything that should have seemed strange.
And more importantly — it didn't bother them at all.
They went to the dining hall as usual. Took their food, sat at the tables. Everything felt normal. Almost.
They tried not to argue.
But they didn't succeed.
At some point, Vlad suddenly stood up and shoved Vaska.
— You took my bun again! — he snapped.
— It wasn't yours! — Vaska shot back immediately. — There was no name on it!
— You do this on purpose!
— And you always act like everything belongs to you!
Voices rose. Chairs scraped. Several children jumped to their feet.
The other kids quickly took Vaska's side.
— He's right!
— It's Vlad's fault!
But Vlad's friends didn't stay silent either.
— Stay out of it!
— You're the ones who always start it!
Words quickly turned into shoves.
And then — into a fight.
Sharp movements, plates knocked over, noise, shouting…
And suddenly — silence.
— Enough.
The voice was calm. Too calm.
It was Vladimir.
He stood at the entrance, smiling slightly. His gaze moved across the children, but there was no anger in it, no surprise.
Only certainty.
He stepped closer.
— You don't want to fight, do you?
His voice was soft… and strangely heavy.
Vlad and Vaska were still breathing hard, but they no longer moved.
— Come with me, — Vladimir said calmly.
They didn't resist.
He led them into a room. It was quiet there. Too quiet.
Vladimir took out headphones and handed a pair to each of them.
— Put these on. And listen… for two hours.
He tilted his head slightly and smiled.
That smile…
It was wrong.
Too even. Too calm. Too… convincing.
It seemed to say without words:
Don't resist.
It's safe here.
It's good here.
Fighting is unnecessary.
Vlad and Vaska stared at him without looking away.
And almost at the same time, they said:
— Okay…
They put on the headphones.
The music began immediately.
Slow. Warm. Sticky.
It seemed to flow over their thoughts, filling the empty spaces.
They left the room and began to walk around the camp.
Step by step.
Without hurry.
Without thoughts.
When the music ended, Vlad suddenly stopped.
He looked at Vaska.
And unexpectedly hugged him.
— I was wrong… I'm sorry.
Vaska froze for a second, then hugged him back.
— I was wrong too.
They let go and smiled.
Genuinely. Lightly.
And for some reason, they didn't want to take off the headphones.
Later, Vlad went to the library.
On the way, he noticed Elizabeth and quickened his pace.
— Hi, — he said, catching up with her. — What page are you on in The Knight in the Panther's Skin?
Elizabeth smiled.
— I'm on page one hundred. It's very interesting.
Vlad lightly put an arm around her shoulders.
— Let's choose something to read together later.
— Yeah, let's! — she replied cheerfully. — What are you reading?
Vlad paused for a moment.
— I… just picked up a book… about how to behave properly.
Elizabeth looked slightly surprised, but quickly smiled.
— That's useful.
They entered the library and sat by the window.
The light fell softly on the pages. Everything felt too calm.
Too perfect.
After a while, Roman, one of the counselors, approached them.
— Kiriоn told me you'd like juice and tea every day, — he said with a smile. — Do you want some now?
The children perked up immediately.
— Yes!
— And headphones with music.
Roman's smile widened.
— Of course.
He went to the kitchen.
Esmeralda met him there.
— Vlad and Elizabeth? — she asked.
— Yes. Make them… a bit more.
She nodded.
When everything was ready, Roman returned and placed the cups in front of them.
— If you want more, just tell me.
— Okay, — the children replied.
They took a few sips.
And immediately felt something inside become… lighter.
Warmer.
Calmer.
They put on their headphones.
And once again sank into that soft, lingering state.
When they finished reading, Vlad and Elizabeth went outside.
The camp was quiet. Too quiet.
Elizabeth suddenly stopped and sat down on the grass.
— Vlad… don't you think this is all strange?
He looked at her.
— What exactly?
She ran her hand over the grass.
— Everything. Everything here is… too perfect. It started back on the bus…
— Don't you feel like there's almost nothing left of who we used to be?
Vlad thought for a moment.
— Yeah… you're right. It reminds me of a book… Huxley… I just can't remember which one.
Elizabeth looked at him sharply.
— Brave New World.
He nodded.
— Right. Like our camp.
She smiled softly.
— But the people there were happy… and we're happy too.
Vlad sat down beside her.
— Yeah… but they didn't have freedom.
— Do we? — she asked gently.
He didn't answer right away.
The wind stirred the grass slightly.
The music in their headphones grew quieter… but deeper.
— Maybe… — he finally said.
Elizabeth lowered her gaze.
— But think about it… what's better? To be free and suffer… or to live happily?
Vlad stared into one point for a long time.
Then quietly said:
— Probably… happily.
She smiled.
— I think so too.
Silence settled between them.
Warm. Dense.
Almost lulling.
— Let's make a flower crown? — Elizabeth suddenly suggested.
Vlad nodded.
They found roses.
It wasn't easy — several times they pricked their fingers, and drops of blood appeared.
But the pain felt strangely distant.
Unimportant.
— We'll go to the nurse later, — Elizabeth said calmly.
— Yeah, — Vlad replied.
It took them twenty minutes to find the office.
The nurse greeted them with a gentle smile.
— Oh, such beautiful crowns… but we need to treat your hands.
Her voice was the same as everyone else's here.
Calm.
Certain.
She carefully treated their wounds and handed them water.
— Drink.
They obeyed.
And immediately felt the remaining pain disappear.
As if it had never existed.
— That's all, — she said.
The children smiled and left.
They spent almost five hours together.
But time passed unnoticed.
When evening came, it was already 8:00 PM.
After dinner, Vlad returned to his room.
His friends immediately noticed the crown.
— What's that?! — Sasha asked, surprised. — Who made it?
Maxim reached out to take it off.
But Vlad sharply slapped his hand away.
— Don't touch it.
He frowned slightly.
— Elizabeth made it.
Kirill narrowed his eyes.
— Do you like her?
Vlad blushed.
— No! Not at all! We're just… friends.
Alex smirked.
— Yeah, sure.
— I'm serious! — Vlad said.
But his voice sounded softer than usual.
Calmer.
As if arguing no longer felt necessary.
— Alright, — Alex said. — Don't get mad.
They lay down to sleep.
Vlad carefully took off the crown and placed it on the nightstand.
He lay down.
The lights went out.
And almost immediately…
The music started again.
Quiet.
Soft.
Inevitable.
It slowly spread through the room, filling every corner.
The children relaxed.
Their thoughts grew quieter.
Weaker.
Unnecessary.
And soon they all fell asleep.
With faint smiles.
As if everything was… perfect.