Trapped : The Island of Torment

Chapter 9 : Temporary Refuge

Laurel and I managed to make our way back to the cave as pitch black replaced the blue skies. Aside from two wild rabbits we also caught fishes at a river we stumbled upon while hunting the second wild rabbits. Laurel also managed to scavenge firewood while I fished, so neither of us returned empty-handed. We entered the cave, while Candice and Kate stepped forward to confirm our identities and check if someone had been following us from behind. "Damn." Kate said, noting my tattered suit jacket which I tore off small scraps to mark our path from the cave to the location we foraged at. "That would have cost a fortune."

"It's nothing." I say. "It would be the least of my worries." 

"Take these and start a fire." Laurel said. "Isabella got us food for tonight." 

"What did you get Eliza?" Candice asked. 

"Two wild rabbits, and a few fish from the river we stumbled upon while chasing a second wild rabbit."

"Better than nothing." she nodded. 

Later

The fire crackled on the small pyre as the flames roasted the food, with Kate and I watching over, while Laurel and Sara took a quick nap. "They're wrong about you Isa, you know that?" Kate asked me. "You had skills, the brains, and importantly, had never thought of betraying Bruce at all."

"I did once." I say. "When my grandparents asked me to return to South Korea, Bruce insisted that he come along."

"That's Bruce for you."

"I stunned him with a stun gun." I said, briefly chuckling. "He was angry."

"Really?" Kate asked. "How did it go when you returned?" 

"He somehow swept it under the rug. Even though he hated the feeling of being taken out by a stun gun of all things." I say, chuckling while the smell of cooked fish and rabbits wafted in the cave. "Admittedly, I regretted doing that to him." 

"Why would people stun their boyfriends anyway?" 

"My grandparents haven't yet warmed up to Bruce." I say, moving the cooked food away from the fire. "Because of, well..." 

"I get it Isa." Kate said. "But did they approve when you decided to date Bruce?"

"They did. Even though they didn't like what happened to me when Bruce and I reconnected as friends." 

"Just to let you know Isa. Even though most of the family distrusted you, I want to let you know, I've got your back, as well as Luke's."

"I already know that." I say, my lips lifted in a small smile. "Even though you decided to say it now." Lifting the cooked meal from the fire I placed them on a flat rock. Nyssa was the first to approach, having been meditating for the entire time when Laurel and I went off to forage for firewood and food. 

"It will do." she said. "Thank you Sayalfir."

"You're welcome." I say. When it comes to people like her Nyssa and Talia are the least persons I have expected to utter a thank you. She took a wild rabbit and moved to one corner to consume it. Laurel and Sara woke up later on and came to take their share of the food. 

"Did South Korean women enter the military like we do?" Kate asked, as we ate the grilled fish. 

"We mostly volunteered, and we often do to protect our homeland." I explained. "Men are mostly conscripted." 

"How are you still acting cordially towards Barbara?" Kate then asked. "She also distrusted you after hearing and even believing in Selina's lies about you?"

"Let's just say... I knew it was coming." I say. "I rarely interacted with the family while Selina had been interacting with them frequently, mostly with Bruce."

"It's like a parent getting a new spouse and the kids didn't take it too well."

"I'm not sure, but I know that I still love Bruce, and the children we've had together." I say. "Bruce did try to talk me out of the idea of leaving the Batfamily, but ultimately... he understood and respected my choice, even though he was sad about it." 

"Did your miscarriage happen because of this?"

"No, but my biological father's death did. The revelation was a double whammy to me when I was still grieving about his passing." I say. "I was already grieving for the death of my father, when the news reached me. I fell unconscious and Bruce rushed me to the hospital, and the doctor had no choice but to break the news to me, that I lost the children." I let out a sigh, wiping the tears that have been forming in my eyes. "I'm sorry, it's still a painful loss." 

"Sorry about that." Kate said, a hand around my shoulder. "Yeah. I visited you there." 

"I still thank you for coming." I say. 

"I'm still curious about who Candice's father is." 

"Oh." I say. Candice soon came to sit by the fire to warm herself. 

"My father was Liam Kim Han Dong, Admiral of the Fleet of the South Korean Navy." she revealed her father's name in a whisper. "Even though he held this position he still preferred the days when he served as a naval officer." 

"Is he still in service or retired?" 

"He's retired, and is enjoying the retirement as his two children are already adults." I tossed in another firewood to keep the fire going. "Maybe my father is searching for us now, if Philip had told him that I was kidnapped." 

"Does he have any connections?" 

"He would conduct drills alongside American commanders at Yongsan when serving in the Navy. He might have connections with some commanders." 

"Did they take our phones?" Kate asked. "I remembered that I left my phone on Mary's desk." 

"Mine's on my desk when the gas knocked me out." I say. 

"There's no cell towers here, so our phones, if we ever have them with us, would have been useless. Satellite phones would have been ideal now." Candice said, a hand beneath her chin. "You should get some sleep Elizabeth." 

"I'm not tired yet." I say. "I'm still thinking about tomorrow." 

"We all have to think about it too Eliza." Candice said. "You've been doing most of the heavy lifting. Get some sleep, then we'll discuss the plans tomorrow." I hesitated for a while but Kate gave me the look that she too supported Candice's point. 

"Ok, I'll get some sleep." I say. 

"I'll keep your weapons safe." Candice said.