In the next week, I graduated high school early so I wouldn't have to attend the last few weeks and started submitting applications to colleges that offered the classes I wanted. The moment I get accepted to one, I intend to move into a dorm right away.

During this time, and the next couple weeks after, I did my best to ignore all the preparations being made for The Program right under my nose, but it was incredibly hard.

Shipments started to arrive almost immediately after Madara explained his plans to me. Every single one came in wooden crates so I didn't have any way of telling what was inside without someone noticing. Hired workers moved the deliveries to the basement and then past the thick metal door down there, which I assumed was the entrance to the underground training area I'd seen some information about on Madara's tablet.

Hanabi had officially accepted her mother's apology which caused our short-lived truce to come to an end. She was back to being a mama's girl and I was back to being the black sheep of the house. On one particular day, I tried to come clean to her about what Madara'd told me in the kitchen. We were studying at the dining table while Masumi went grocery shopping and Madara worked away in his office upstairs. I glanced at her every few moments, wondering if I should say something.

The argument we'd had when she told me she'd forgiven her mother was a rough one that ended with us angrily parting ways. She seemed to notice my unease and gradually got more and more annoyed before finally hissing at me in a quiet voice, "What the hell do you keep looking at?" Her mouth was in a stubborn frown as she glared at me.

With a sigh, I let my shoulders drop in defeat. After checking to be sure no one else was around to hear us, I whispered to my little sister, "You shouldn't trust Madara. He told me some stuff the other day that was just…absolutely crazy. I think something's wrong with him."

Hanabi rolled her eyes before sitting her pencil down and shaking her head, "You can't stay mad at them forever, Hinata. I know you're upset about everything right now, but you have to get over it."

My brow furrowed at her and I grabbed her hand closest to me, "I'm not making this up, Hanabi! I really think he's dangerous!" Her disbelieving look only got more prominent, so I came clean about every detail her mother's new boyfriend had given me. Once I was done with my explanation, she seemed angry.

"I know you're going through a tough time right now, but this is taking things too far."

My mouth fell open in shock. There's no way I could've come up with something like that on my own! How could she possibly think I was lying?

"What's the matter, Hanabi?"

We both turned to see Madara passing through the entryway of the dining room with a friendly grin on his charming face. He really was too good at acting.

Hanabi glanced in my direction before shaking her head and thankfully covering for me, "Nothing. We're just arguing about something stupid." Even if she'd forgiven him and her mother, she still didn't seem to like him that much and was acting cautiously. I was grateful that her instincts were saving me this time.

At dinner later that night, Hanabi, Masumi, and I all got into a screaming fight. It was becoming the new normal as I refused to accept her new boyfriend, Hanabi tried not to pick sides, and Masumi tried to force her to.

After dinner is when I realized the lock had been taken off my door and Madara visited my room to break the news of my participation in The Program, not to mention threaten my sister should I disobey.

The next day, I tried to get my younger sibling alone so I could try to warn her once more, but she was always with her mother and wouldn't hear me out when I tried to visit her in her room. I'd never forgive myself if I gave up after just one try and something terrible happened to her.

Each time I made eye contact with Dr. Uchiha, my blood ran cold and I felt a very real fear for my life. This fear was so strong, in fact, that I typed up and printed a letter explaining all that's been happening since the day I found Masumi and him hooking up in the living room. I folded it up nicely and wrote Hanabi's name on the envelope before tucking it inside of my pillowcase so no one would come across it by accident.

It's at times like these that I regretted not making any friends in highschool. I wasn't sleeping or eating well because the stress was so overwhelming. Someone to lean on is just what I needed. Unfortunately, since my father's passing, no one like that existed for me anymore.

That night, I was shaken awake by a rough hand on my shoulder and sucked in a sharp breath when my eyes crept open to meet Madara's. I sat up in shock, pulling my blanket up to cover my chest even though I was fully clothed in my pajamas, "W-What are you-"

"I found this earlier today. Care to explain?" In his hand was the envelope containing my last ditch effort to let my sister know what was going on, her name sprawled in cursive across the front of it. I opened my mouth to try and come up with a response, but clamped it shut when I realized it wouldn't matter what I said anyway.

Tears rose in my eyes as he ripped it in half and let it fall to the ground, "What did I tell you I'd do if you disobeyed me?" His voice was low and dangerous.

I tried to keep a brave face, but my voice betrayed me, "You won't hurt her."

His hand shot up and wrapped around my throat so quickly that I didn't have time to react. I gasped and shivers ran down my spine as he leaned in close enough for me to smell his cologne, "Not this time, I won't, but there's more than one way to punish you."

My eyes widened. Is he insinuating what I think he's insinuating? Before I could linger on the thought, he released his hold on me and I took in a shaky breath. "Tomorrow morning you will meet us in the foyer at nine o'clock sharp. If you're even a minute late…Well, I'm sure you can figure it out."

A few tears betrayed my efforts and slipped down my cheeks as I watched him turn and leave the room. He'd never told me when The Program would start, but I never imagined it'd be so soon.

What will they tell Hanabi when she undoubtedly asks where I've gone? I bet they'll say I've gone to a summer college program. It was something that I truly would do and the fact that we've started arguing again could work as an excuse for why I didn't say goodbye.

I sank back into my bed, letting my tears fall freely since no one was around to see them. What if I never get to see or speak to her again? Surely she'll think that I disappeared hating her. I can't leave her a note or letter because I'd already tried that and it didn't end well.

I'm going to have to survive The Program in order to make things right with her.

I have to do it for her.