-Athena's POV-

I was stirred awake by the whispers from a familiar voice. I opened my eyes to see a pair of velvety brown ones staring at me. A flash of playfulness danced across his eyes as he tugged me to my feet. Checking over my shoulder, I made sure that no guards had seen him sneak in. Just like every other night, there was never a single guard that had caught on. I marvelled at the fact that he could sneak into the girls cabin -- that was two or three miles away from the boys cabin -- without getting caught.

The drill was the same. I would slip into my gear and follow behind him as he led me out. We raced up the hill and into the dense mountain forests, chasing each other like two young wolves. He eventually tackled me and pinned my back against the soft earth.

"Looks like I win again," Coda said, a confident smirk stretching across his face. I raised my hand and pushed his cheek away. He let out a quiet laugh and let me up. His fingers laced themselves with mine and he led me farther into the forest.

"Here, this is what imprint we will leave her," he said, pulling out his knife, "our little written secret for the next recruits." I couldn't see what he was doing over his wide, muscular shoulders. Unlike me, Coda was never careful. He didn't care about anything other than having a good time. I always wore my armor when I went out with him like this, just in case we were fired on. But, not him. Coda simply wore a pair of tough pants with leather boots and a light brown tunic.

"Move out of the way!" I grabbed his shoulder with both of my hands and tugged him from the tree. In front of me, I saw that he had carved drawings, symbols, and words into the bark of the tree. Intricate swirls and loops twisted around the main design. In the middle of the tree was a completely carved in part with bark standing out to illuminate the words. At the top of design it read, Even in an endless hell like this.... The bottom design read, There still can be some love. Inside the carved out design, my name and his were inscribed. A picture of a bird holding flowers in it's beak flew away from the pattern. Nightingale and Coda.

"Wow," I gasped. Coda wrapped his huge arms around my waist and held me tight. My skin warmed where his hands were touching. I smiled and leaned against him.

"One day, after we are far away from this place, I'll make sure that I find you," he whispered to me, his breath tickling my ear. He pressed his lips to my cheek.

Coda led me away from the tree. We weaved through the forest again until we came upon our usual place. Tucked behind a group of nearly impassible trees there was a waterfall that overlooked the whole station. We would often sneak away to the waterfall when we had extra time, either in the mornings, at night, or in between drills. Just like before, Coda and I rested next to the calming waters and held hands. His arm snaked around my shoulder and I leaned into his chest. I heard him mumble, "one day."

I looked up at his face. He had shaggy, blond hair that curled over onto his forehead. His jaw was chiseled with small stubble coating it. His nose was a bit crooked from the multiple blasts he had received and he had full lips. He had coffee colored eyes that were soft and comforting. When he realized I had been staring, he looked down at me. A small, caring smile crept slowly and then vanished. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we both leaned in. Our lips met in a soft kiss full of innocence and young love. Just as quickly as it had started, it ended in a tenderly pull away.

Ever since I arrived, Coda had been the only one who seemed to care for my well being. When we had both confessed our dreams of escaping Honor Island and our hatred for the establishment, we became close. Coda was a worthy competitor for me who often told me of his hard uprising as a military father's son. He told me that his dad always wanted him to become part of an extremely guarded US military program that would secretly assassinate and protect. Coda's father would give him "tests" that were basically torture sessions to improve his reflexes and instincts. When Coda was thirteen, he was sent to Honor Island in which he was supposed to return to the US to report for his first official mission. He also revealed to me that if he was raised with a kinder father -- maybe raised by his mother, whom he barely remembered -- that he would've followed his deeply resonated passion of art.

I had confessed everything to Coda down to every last detail. He has listened about my hardships with Ra's Al Ghul and with the death of my loving parents. He was often there for me after I had returned from one of the mental tortures conducted inside the Island, swiping away my tears. There was so much trust between Coda and I.

"Nightingale," my training name rolled off his tongue, "I want to tell you something. I want to tell you my name." His name? Coda and I both told each other that where we were trained, our mentors had stressed that our training names were the only thing we could be referred to and to never reveal who were actually were to anyone. I had picked Nightingale in the League of Assassins and never spoke the name "Athena Thomas" since then.

"My name," Coda started, "isn't Coda. It's James." I stared at the boy in front of me. I wanted to cover his mouth to stop him from giving up his most important weapon, but I couldn't of stopped him. Coda kissed my face as he realized I began to worry. "It's okay, I trust you with everything I have. That includes my name."

I sat thinking for a moment. Would they torture the information out of me one day? They had done it before, but not for a name. Was someone's name really that important? I had been wired to think so. "Athena. Mine is Athena," I blurted. Coda smiled and kissed me again. I gasped breathlessly as he smiled against my lips.

"What a beautiful name to match a beautiful face." He grabbed my hand and we waltzed down the hill. He bowed and pressed a sweet kiss on my hand before dashing off like the knight he was towards his cabin. I flashed a smile to myself and climbed back into my bed before the sun rose.

In the morning, everyone awoke early and got dressed. We all marched outside with our cabin guards in a single file line for breakfast. Our cabins were in a valley, while the guard posts overlooked the whole thing on a nearby cliff. The dining hall and schools were reached by climbing a straight up four mile hike. When I first arrived, I couldn't make it up the cliff as fast as everyone else and almost starved.

After a big breakfast made of the foods we grew, the girls and boys were listed off to their groups for practice missions. Usually, groups of kids were picked at random and we never really got to stay with the same people. But, the groupings were becoming pretty loose. I had been paired with the same four people for over two months now.

"Nightingale, Polar, Venus, Bull, Fiddle," the General called, "you will be tracking and hunting as well as coordination in the East Side woods." I stood tall and straight as I grabbed my pack and weapons. My four comrades followed me, hums of delight showing me that they were as excited as me.

We were all led into a small plane with blindfolds secured way too tightly. The sides of my head had just began to toughen up, so unlike the Senior Class students, I still felt pain when the piece of cloth began to dig and rub against my skin. I tried to focus on remembering exactly where the plane flew.

The blindfolds were removed and we were shoved out of the plane. Using our parachutes in our travel packs, we glided into the trees, careful not to get tangled up. The East Side woods were the most hard to navigate. I glanced around the maze of green, trying to think of a way to get back to the camp before sundown.

"Well, we might as well begin our mission," Polar said, waving his tattooed wrist over the mission post. It was a small sign that was built into the tree to our right. The mission posts were built all over Honor Island so the students could receive their assigned missions. Our "tattoos" were more like brands. Each student had one different than the other, but each about the same size and theme. They are burned into our skin the second week we are on the island. Unlike other torture camps, the tattoos are in no way trackers. None of us have trackers or any system that monitors where we are other than human guards. This is because it is impossible to leave the island without a plane or boat. The forests that cover the outside rim of the island are too dangerous to navigate through without special resources, which aren't available. If you can get through the forests, the only thing stopping you from freedom is a steep cliff. You would have to try to climb down, since a jump off would land you in a pile of rocks. If you get down that cliff, you can swim. The waters are extremely rough and are filled with hostile creatures. Not to mention the only land for miles in any direction is Honor Island. If you make it to the ocean, you wouldn't have enough food or water to last you the swim, since the forest already stripped you of everything. So, no one has ever or will ever escape.

My group and I made our way through the trees after reading our instructions. We had an easy mission. Use your wits and tracking abilities to make your way out or die. Polar was the smart one who was good with technology and plants. Venus, who was as beautiful as she was cunning, could out think anyone or anything. She loved animals and was the best hunter. Bull was good with his hands and his muscles. He would do all the heavy lifting and all things related to athletics. Fiddle was the most important of us all. She was good with navigation and understood what needed to be done. Some of us nicknamed her Snow because she was always so closed off and cold. Unlike her name, she never played a happy tune. Our group number was five, uneven. Every group had an odd amount of members to show that we are prepared to sacrifice. The fifth member of the group is always designated to be used as food or bait if needed.

I was considered the leader and fifth member of the group. My group considered me the best fighter and the bravest. I allowed Fiddle to guide us though, as she began piecing together where exactly we were. Venus checked the floor for traces of tracks and Polar checked the plants for any sign of trampling. Bull cleared away branches as we walked through.

When we had already been out for six hours, we decided to eat. Unlike other kids on the island, we knew how to have fun. Even Fiddle joined in on our games. We put all of our weapons in a circle and took turns taking one. Venus of course chose the cross bow. Bull chose a long knife. Fiddle picked up a rifle. Polar chose a normal bow and smirked at Venus. I quickly swiped up my swords. After putting our remaining weapons back into our packs, we counted off.

"One...two...three...GO!" We all ran into different directions. Bull went trudging off after a deer he saw running. Fiddle hurtled over log. Venus fired into the woods and went off. Polar ran the opposite direction and I took to the trees.

An hour later, the game was up. I had managed to snag two rabbits and a fox. Polar came back with some turnips, berries, and a bundle of rats. Venus held her prized deer in her hands and dropped it in front of us. I was impressed. Fiddle quietly laid out her hunt, four rabbits and an owl. Bull met up with us a few minutes later and confidently laid his kill over everyone elses. A wild boar with slashes all over its body stared up at me. We all clapped and started a fire to cook our dinner. When we had no more stomachs to fill or stories to tell, we put the rest of our group's food into our packs and continued.

We reached the mission hall at around midnight and checked in with the guards. They checked our achievements and the researched we gathered. After saying our quick goodbyes, we split and went to our cabins for sleep.

I was surprised to wake up to see bright light filling every inch of my sleeping house. I glanced around to see many other waking girls surprised. Usually, we are awoken around five o'clock when it is still vaguely dark outside. But, the guards had let us sleep in. It looked around seven or eight.

We were all headed to the mission hall as usual. The sun beat down on my skin. This high up with this much sun would give any normal person a very red sunburn. But, my body had evolved against the burning and now only made me a couple of shades tanner. The first month on Honor Island was brutal. I had sunburn blisters covering every inch of my skin, yet no one offered a place to recover or sunscreen.

Both genders were stuffed inside a small room behind the shooting range. Everyone traded faces of confusion. Suddenly, a familiar man came walking out holding a crumpled and broken boy. Everyone in the room stood up as straight as a stick and salluted.

"Greetings, students," Death spoke to the crowd, "we have a special meeting set up." His sinister smile appeared once again, reminding me of the first day I arrived and the broken ribs he had gifted me with. Death was the leader of this miserable island. He had diplomatic immunity in almost every country, since the best of soldiers were sent to train with him. All of the kids on this island were sent here by their government to train to become elite at war. And Death was teaching it to them.

"Among us, we have rule breakers. Rule number fifteen." He turned to us.

"There will be no sexual or romantic interactions between two students," we all said in a robot-like way. The 230 rules had been burned into our memories.

I focused on the boy that Death was holding by the shirt collar. I pitied him for a second, wondering what the boy had done. His blond hair covered his bruised face as blood leaked out from everywhere on him. When he opened his large eyes, I realized who that was. Coda. His brown eyes were red and his face was so distorted I began to question if it really was him. He locked eyes with me and managed to use his split lips to mouth 'I'm sorry'.

"Yes, and rule number fifteen was broken by Coda and Nightingale." I turned around to notice that a circle had cleared. All the students backed away as guards shoved me onto the stage-like structure Death and Coda were on. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like I was in some nightmare that I was trying so desperately to wake up from. "Any broken rule is punishable by death."

I was forced to kneel before Death as he smacked me across the face with a wooden mallot. I fell to the floor and stared up at Coda. He was dropped to floor. His head slumped against his shoulder. "Now, although we usually punish both rule breakers, the four students who brought the relationship forward begged to save Nightingale's life. Polar, Fiddle, Bull, and Venus will be awarded with Senior Class for their gallant efforts with the two rule breakers," Death spoke with his smile still plastered on his face. I looked out to the crowd to see my friends watching me. They refused to meet my eyes. I blinked away tears as the feeling of betrayal sank in.

"So, Nightingale will be spared. But, Coda will not share the same fate. Along with his death, the accused must speak his name as his last words." That little rule was set in to bring shame to anyone weak enough to die on the island.

"J-James," Coda mumbled. Death pressed the barrel of his gun into the side of Coda's head and pulled the trigger. Blood coated my face as the bang from the gun rang through my ears. I watched as Coda's body tumbled down in a lifeless heap. His blank, dark eyes peered into my soul. I let out a sob as I was carried away. Everyone left the room as we retreated to our missions.

I spent all night trying to replace the sadness in my heart with rage. It was fairly easy. The more I pictured Coda's easy-going smile, the more I pictured the faces of my group. I was shaking with anger all night as my plan of revenge brewed in my mind. As much as I would've loved to take down Death, I knew killing Death was impossible. So, I focused on the four people whose names were to never be on my tongue again.

A week after Coda's death, everyone had forgotten about it. Everyone but me. I had ditched my mission to meet up with the four in the training area. They had been assigned fighting exercises with just them, as many Senior Class students got to choose who they worked with and what they did. I patted Talia's dagger and aimed up my shot. A bullet pierced Bull right between his eyes. The other three turned in a worried circle just as I jumped down. I pulled out my two katanas and drove them right into Venus's chest. Polar cried out and ran towards me, but I dodged him and sliced through his leg. He fell to the ground with a scream as blood poured from him. His life was draining by the second. Fiddle turned and made a run for it. I chased her until a voice boomed over me.

"Nightingale!" Death called, "Leave them alone!" He didn't sound angry or surprised that I had done what I did. He began jogging up to me. Fiddle had turned to face Death when I took my chance. I plunged Talia's knife straight into her heart. Her eyes stared into mine as her chest stopped rising. Her mouth formed a perfect O in surprise. I dropped her body to the floor. Polar let out one last scream of agony before he too left this world.

"They betrayed me," I spat, tucking my weapons back into their places.

"Yes, they did," he said, completely nonchalant. I brushed away angry tears and looked at the bodies of my dead friends. Coda was the first boyfriend I had and the only person I cared about. "This is what trust gets you." Death mumbled to me. I agreed with him silently. I had trusted Venus when I had gossipped to her about me and Coda. She had happily encouraged me at the time. I trusted all of them with the knowledge of where I sneaked off to in the morning, yet they had all gotten Coda killed. The name James still was on my lips.

"I shall never trust another person every again," I swore out loud to myself.

"The deaths here made you stronger," Death said, resting a hand on my shoulder, "welcome to the Senior Class."

I thought a lot about what Death had said. How did he know I would've gone after them? He talked about the deaths of Polar, Bull, Venus, and Fiddle so calmly as if they were just training dummies. I rolled the words around in my mind. The deaths here have only made you stronger.

The whole thing seemed a little too planned. Why had he killed Coda, not me? Why had he allowed me to slaughter his four students like they were nothing, yet I got no punishment other than my normal tortures?

After all, Coda was a musical term meaning the concluding passage to add to the already basic structure.

At that time, I never was aware of just how important I was to Honor Island. I was the prodigy student, sent by Ra's Al Ghul and the first to ever complete the League of Assassins training and be shipped to Honor Island.

My friends could've actually gone to Death and reported Coda and I. Or, Death could've staged the whole thing just to ingrain the idea that trust was as stupid as love. I couldn't be sure.

But, the death of Coda, Polar, Venus, Bull, and Fiddle were the best lesson I ever had. That lesson would stick with me my whole life, making it hard to trust or love anyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Long chapter of all backstory! I did plan on moving past a history lesson on Athena, but my hands were flying and my brain was churning with potential on this chapter so I did. A three thousand chapter on Honor Island. This one is pretty dark....but I think it adds to her character and follows with the feel of New 52 comic books...yeah they aren't the happiest. This book is coming close to it's end! Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow if you aren't already!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~