November 3, 2025

"Charlie, you ready?" asked Leo, rapping lightly on her bedroom door.

"Yes, I think so," replied Charlie, opening the door and dragging her suitcase behind her. She had on a white silk shirt, black pants that cut off at the ankles with a light checkered pattern on them all paired with some black flats.

"It's one in the morning. How are you comfortable in that?"

"I could ask the same about your suit," she retorted, jokingly, heaving the suitcase up on her desk to collect some paper work in it.

"You sure you brought enough stuff?" Leo laughed.

"Ha ha. When you run out of clothes after the first day, don't come complaining to me!" she grinned back. She retreated back to her room to retrieve an elegant black handbag.

"I think that's everything. The plane is ready, correct?"

"Yes, everything is a go, Madam President."

"I told you, don't call me that," she chuckled, punching him lightly in the biceps.

"Sorry, force of habit." He picked up her carry on and swung it over his shoulder.

"Black's a great color for you," Charlie joked.

"Not as good as it is on you." He felt embarrassment pulse through his veins. Equally, Charlie had turned away to hide her blushing cheeks.

"We should get going. Our plane leaves in 30 minutes."

"Okay," Charlie said with her back still to him, "I'll meet you downstairs. Just give me a minute."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just...I'll be down in a minute." Once she was sure Leo had exited the room, she collapsed to the floor. Her breathing had become ragged. Her mind wandered back to previous events. The time when her and Leo were trapped in the street by foreign purgers. How one of them ran his hand up her thigh. The time when her family was captured, and she was the only one to come out of that ordeal, wishing she had died instead. Too many memories induced nausea, and she bolted to the bathroom, vomiting up anything she ate that day.

"Damn it," she seethed as she slapped chunks of blonde hair away from her face. Brushing her teeth and wiping residue of tears from under her eyes, she gave a small smile in the mirror and walked out. Upon arriving downstairs, she was predictably questioned by Leo.

"Are you sure you're okay? You look a little pallid."

"No, I'm fine. Just tired I guess," she said, avoiding his eye contact. They stepped into the unmarked black Chevy, and fastened their seat belts. The lights of Washington D.C lulled by, disappearing behind the looming buildings of the hidden roadway. They arrived at their destination where a plane was already prepped and ready for take off. Charlie grabbed her carry on and entered the plane. The inside was magnificent, a cordial surprise judging by the dull exterior. Most of the space had been cleared of seats, aside from the far right side. In the middle was a black marble table with four white chairs, bolted down, surrounding it. A TV hung on the wall nearest to the table. On the left side, a mini bar with a medley of alcohols and a pair of chairs similar to the ones at the table againsts the windows. She made her way to one of the seats closest to the back on the right side. As she lowered herself down, Leo took the seat next to her.

"So what's the plan?" he asked in a whisper.

She shifted her head and provided a weak grin as she said, "Don't you trust my decisions?"

"You know I do. It's the rest of the world I don't trust."

"Leo, I'll be fine."

"But just in case, tell me."

Sighing deeply, she began, "As you've already seen, the riots in the streets have been getting increasingly more violent. We've tried to arrest and contain the violent NFFA supporters, but it seems for every one, three more take his place. I have been attempting to figure out where they are getting their guns and their backing from, so I got into contact with the Prime Minister of England and the President of France. It appears that some high ranking NFFA officials have succeeded in buying off loyalty from government officials around the world. I am hoping to work with France to get into contact with the UNU-WIDER in Finland to come up with a solution to reduce the economic impact of suspending the purge as well as breaking up the riots."

"Who do you suspect are backing these rebels?"

"Russia, but I have very little proof. However, a month after my election when the first riots broke out, the State Duma tried to subpoena their President's expenditure. He recently increased the taxes, but refused to explain why. He just now vetoed the subpoena."

"We should be wary of France as well. They signed that trade agreement with Russia and the Ukraine."

"I know, Leo. You know as well as anyone that…" she felt her vision fog in and out of focus, "that…" She groggily closed her eyes slowly and re-opened them. "Leo…" she groaned, attempting to stand up, but collapsed to the ground, one arm outstretched while the other wrapped around her stomach.

"Charlie," he spluttered, shaking her. "Charlie!" He placed a hand under her legs and another under her neck, lifting her up bridal style. He rushed her to the back room of the plane, the medical room in case of emergency. He laid her on the bed as three other body guards dashed in.

"Get the doctor!" shouted Leo. The men nodded and retreated out the door.

"Charlie, can you hear me?" He shook her again. "Charlie, are…." he felt like someone had bludgeoned the occipital region of his skull with a stone. "Char.." but he collapsed on top of Charlie, head on her abdomen and his right hand gripping hers.

"Finally! I'm surprised they lasted this long. Go tell the Cap that they're out. You two stay with me. Can't have them escaping when they wake up." One of the black dressed men yanked Leo off of Charlie and dragged him out. The ringleader pulled Charlie up by her hair and followed. They found a handrail along the left side of the plane. He placed Charlie's hands on it, locked cuffs around them, and put a stopper on either side, so she couldn't move to either side. The same action was repeated on Leo. The one guard bent down and pushed a couple strands of hair behind Charlie's ear.

"The Captain says we are about an hour away. We should probably go relax for the remainder of the trip. These two are going to be knocked out for awhile."