Trapped : The Island of Torment

Chapter 36 : Arrival In Seoul

Seoul, South Korea (Two Days Later)

The skies above South Korea were gloomy to say the least. The grey clouds threatened rain as pedestrians on the ground carried umbrellas or raincoats. Chuseok is coming soon, as the traditional markets of Seoul are buzzing with life more than ever. A plane burst forth from the clouds, beginning a slow descent in order to reach its destination. Inside the plane air stewards and stewardesses walked along the aisle, checking that every table had been lifted and seat belts buckled. In the business class section of the plane a couple had been fast asleep, wearing neck pillows to avoid potential neck injury. Another couple, this time to be senior citizens, are holding hands, eagerly awaiting for the plane to land. Two rows in front of them sat two dozen children, their ages ranging from infancy to early childhood. 

A steward gently patted on the sleeping man's shoulder as he was seated on the outer seat of the row, waking him up. "Mr President." he told the man as he roused. "We're landing soon." he added. The man was not happy when he was woken up but had to accept the reality and gently roused the woman asleep next to him. 

"Alice..." he called. "We're landing soon." the woman asleep next to him soon woke up and buckled her seat belt. Former President Jeffery Reagan was eager to fly in as soon as possible along with his wife and family as two days ago they received news that their daughter, Alice's daughter and only child from her first marriage, was rescued from the island of Lian Yu after disappearing for nearly two weeks. News also broke that both she and her husband were kidnapped to the same island and sustained injuries, along with her cousin and other captives such as her husband's cousin. 

They were lucky to encounter a nearby US Navy aircraft carrier while engaging in battle with their captors. Isabella had fallen unconscious by that point, as she was shot in the shoulder by an arrow according to Alice's niece Candice, while Bruce was shot in the side of his abdomen by the captors, one Thomas Elliot. Another kidnapper was on site, one Malcolm Merlyn, but he fled the scene just as a small crew of Navy sailors docked on the beach on their raft. Thomas Elliot was not unknown to Alice, as she remembered that he was also Isabella's childhood playmate, but was shocked to learn that he was the one responsible for her daughter's abduction. Both Isabella and her husband Bruce had to be airlifted to South Korea for immediate medical attention, Isabella in particular, as her wound might be prone to infection despite the crude method of disinfection via gunpowder. 

Isabella's condition was finally stabilized after surgery but the surgeons said that she would not be waking up in a few days due to the lengthy operation to both thoroughly disinfect and operate on her wound. Bruce too received a similar diagnosis following his own surgery. Those who had been rescued are now in the same hospital the couple were admitted to be checked on for their condition following their rescue. 

The plane touched down, a bump on the airport tarmac and jostling some passengers. The children remained calm despite the scare, including the two infants secured in their travel baskets. The children are all Bruce and Isabella's, born four years into their marriage and the subsequent years. They had twelve children together, six daughters and six sons, much to the envy of some people around them. Their first child, a daughter they named Victoria Christina, was born in a difficult delivery which nearly killed Isabella, was both sweet and caring, and reminded Alice so much of her daughter when she was her age. 

Bruce and Isabella's subsequent children are twin boys, Alexander Thomas and George. As they grew older Alice noticed the resemblance Alexander had to his father and Jeff joked that Alex would have been a good sportsman should he decide to join. George however, resembled both his parents as he was often studious and serious compared to his athletic twin brother. Despite their differing personalities the siblings helped one another in overcoming their flaws. 

The flashing light on the seat belt indicator was switched off and passengers were allowed to disembark. Jeff and Alice got up first, ushering the children out of the plane while Secret Service agents followed from behind, keeping an eye on the elderly couple as well. A small entourage of Secret Service agents escorted the family from the terminal to the immigration counter as they checked in. Outside the arrival hall reporters were waiting behind another entourage of agents, eagerly anticipating the moment when Jeffery and Alice Kim-Reagan made their appearance with their grandchildren and his in-laws. 

"So many reporters out there eomma." Alice whispered to the elderly woman as they waited for their baggage at the baggage collection area. 

"Indeed." she nodded. "But it is still good to be back here."

Cameras began snapping instantly as the family made their appearance, with reporters shouting questions in a mixture of Korean and English. Jeff and Alice protected their grandchildren while each was cradling their youngest pair of grandchildren in their arms. A fleet of armored vehicles was parked at the hall to help the passengers to reach them but the reporters' presence nearly drowned the fleet from the family's line of sight. The team of agents guarding the family moved in sync as they escorted them to the correct destination. 

Another group, this time not escorted by the Secret Service, emerged from the arrival hall and was now stunned by the amount of press the family attracted. After the news broke Bruce's adopted children were eager to visit Bruce as well as Isabella, but Isabella's grandfather Uriah Kim was not welcoming towards the idea of them visiting Isabella. Their supposed allegiance with Selina Kyle was not tolerated because of the actions that she did to drive Isabella away from Bruce and tried to ruin her reputation by lying to them about the nature of the relationship Bruce and Isabella formed, which puts Isabella as the third wheel in Bruce's relationship with Selina, and that is not true at all. And because of this Uriah forbade them from travelling with them after cutting familial ties. 

"Look at that welcoming party." Jason Todd, the second eldest of Bruce's adopted sons said. "They were popular here."

"They are minor aristocrats here Jason." Damian Wayne, Bruce's biological but illegitimate child said. "Isabella was the descendant of two kings, and through her grandfather, their ancestor was a king who ruled the powerful nation of Gouryeo."

"Thanks, bookworm." he teased. 

"I still have my reservations regarding my father's former lover. And I was proven right after what she did to Isabella came to light." Damian added. "I decided to cut off ties as well." 

"Yeah, yeah. Mr Right." Jason said in a mocking fashion.