When the children woke up, everything felt a little strange—as if the night had left behind an invisible trace. But no one spoke about it out loud. Silently, they got dressed and went to the dining hall.
Inside, it was bright and calm… too calm.
They hoped that at least now no one would start fighting.
And at first, it seemed like that would be true.
But suddenly, out of nowhere, Nina sharply turned to Naomi.
— You did it again!
— What?! I didn't do anything!
And in the next second, they were already clawing at each other.
Hands in hair. Nails scratching skin. Sharp, angry movements.
The noise cut through the silence of the dining hall.
And then the door opened.
Matilda walked in.
She stopped and looked at them—calmly, almost gently.
— That's enough… — she said softly. — Let's go… talk, just the three of us.
Her voice was strange.
It didn't command—it wrapped around them.
The girls froze.
Their hands loosened on their own.
They were breathing heavily… but no longer resisting.
— Come on, — Matilda repeated with a slight smile.
The smile was… wrong.
Too calm.
Too warm.
As if something else was hiding behind it.
The girls nodded.
They didn't understand why.
Matilda led them aside, gave them hair ties, brushes, clips, small decorations.
Then she handed them headphones.
— Listen to some music… while you do each other's hair, alright?
— Alright… — they answered almost at the same time.
They went outside.
Sat down on the grass.
The music began—quiet… soft… slow.
At first, just sounds.
Then—something more.
It seemed to seep inside.
Into their thoughts.
Into their feelings.
Erasing anger.
Erasing resentment.
Their hands began to move on their own—slowly, carefully.
They braided each other's hair.
Added roses.
And the longer the music played… the slower everything around them became.
The calmer their faces grew.
When they finished, they looked at each other.
And suddenly… they hugged.
— I'm sorry… for scratching your face… — Naomi said quietly.
— And I'm sorry… that we fought… — Nina replied.
They sounded sincere.
But there was something… чужое… in their voices.
As if the words had been placed inside them.
They stood up.
And decided to go to the football field.
The boys were already there.
Maxim was training with his friends.
They were running, playing, laughing.
Shirtless.
Their bodies looked too… mature.
Too strong.
Too perfect for their age.
The girls stopped.
Blushed.
But the boys didn't chase them away.
— Want to watch? — someone shouted.
They nodded.
And stayed.
Others slowly joined.
Vaska, Denis, Seryoga, Rio, Estelle.
— Let's play! — Vaska suggested.
— Let's do it, — the others agreed.
And the game began.
Fast.
Sharp.
Almost professional.
The girls stood around, watching without looking away.
As if they weren't children…
But real athletes.
Time seemed to speed up.
And then—suddenly stopped.
The game ended.
A draw.
No one won.
They were all breathing heavily.
Many had scrapes.
Some had blood.
They went to the nurse.
She calmly treated the wounds, put on bandages.
— Be more careful, alright?
— Alright… — they replied.
She smiled.
Then looked at Vlad.
— By the way… how's that girl? Was it just me… or do you like each other?
Vlad immediately blushed.
— No! We… we're just friends!
Rio smirked.
— Yeah, sure… you'll fall for her soon.
— Shut up!
Laughter.
Loud.
Unpleasant.
And suddenly, Vlad hit Rio.
Rio staggered.
— What are you doing?!
A fight broke out.
Denis tried to intervene.
— Wait, I'll—
He reached for Rio's neck—the way Kirill once taught him.
But he made a mistake.
Pressed the wrong spot.
Rio suddenly went limp.
And collapsed.
Silence.
— I… I didn't mean to… — Denis whispered.
The nurse ran over immediately.
— Quickly! Sit him up!
She checked his breathing.
His pulse.
— He's alive… just unconscious.
She turned to Vlad.
— And you… stay.
— The rest of you—leave.
The boys left.
They helped carry Rio.
Almost carried him.
He still didn't wake up.
The nurse looked at Vlad.
— Vlad, right?
He nodded.
— Why did you do that?
He clenched his fists.
— Because they… they said it on purpose!
— Said what?
— That I'd fall in love with her!
The nurse smiled softly.
— That's normal… at your age.
— No!
— Feeling affection… attachment…
— No! — Vlad repeated sharply. — They were just teasing me!
— Maybe… — she said calmly. — But that's not a reason to fight.
He stayed silent.
Breathing heavily.
Then lowered his eyes.
— Next time… I'll try not to fight…
— Good.
She handed him a glass of fruit juice.
— Here.
He took it.
Took a sip.
And suddenly…
His face changed.
As if he… came alive.
His eyes softened.
His breathing steadied.
He drank it all in seconds.
— Thank you…
— You're welcome.
He walked out.
His friends were already waiting.
— Let's go, — Denis said. — We need to finish the plan.
— Yeah…
They left.
At night.
At 00:00.
They gathered by the staircase.
Spread out a map.
— The exit is here…
— And the guards are here…
— Then we go around…
They whispered.
Focused.
But suddenly…
Quietly.
Barely audible.
The music started.
The same one.
At first, no one noticed.
But after a few minutes…
Sasha yawned.
— I… I'm sleepy…
He sat down.
Then lay down.
And fell asleep.
— Hey! — someone whispered. — Don't sleep!
But the music grew stronger.
Deeper.
Heavier.
It pressed on their minds.
— We need to go… to our rooms… — Vlad murmured.
They stood up.
Walked.
But took only a few steps.
And…
Fell.
One after another.
Asleep.
Deeply.
Without dreams.
Without thoughts.
After some time, the counselors came.
They looked at the children.
At the map.
Picked it up.
— Oh, how interesting…
— An escape plan?
They exchanged glances.
Smiled.
— We should show this to Tenebre…
One of them took out a phone.
Took a picture of the map.
— Let him see…
— He'll like it…
They carefully lifted the children.
Carried them to their rooms.
Laid them on the beds.
Placed water beside them.
And for Vlad…
They placed fruit juice.
The same one.
One of the counselors looked at it and said quietly:
— Let him get used to it…
The music was still playing.
Quietly.
Softly.
Deeply.
And it felt…
Like waking up from this was no longer possible.