Charlie squinted her eyes once before completely opening them. She made a motion to push her glasses up her nose, so she could see clearly, but was hindered by a pair of tightly bound cuffs.
"Leo," she said as loudly as her hoarse throat could muster. She felt as if she was falling.
"Leo!" She pulled at her restraints, clanking them loudly against the metal bar.
"Oh, she is finally awake!" Charlie scooted away from the guards like they were assassins.
"Where are you taking us?" demanded Charlie.
"Calm down. You're not in any danger," one of the guards said, reaching for something in his pocket. Her muscles immediately contracted and tensed up. He held up the retrieved item, a grey key.
"Hold still," he said while he unfastened her handcuffs. Once her wrists could breathe again, she rubbed a circular bruise darkening on her wrist.
"Where's Leo?" The guard ushered her over to the front of the van where Leo was fastened to another metal pole. Likewise, he unchained his wrists.
"Charlie, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. How about you?"
"Fine." as he shifted his gaze from Charlie's eye to the guards, he aggressively stood up. "What the hell did you do to us?!"
"Leo…" said Charlie, trying to push him away from the guard.
"Sir, it was for your own protection by order of President Bisset."
"Well you tell President Bisset to fuck off!"
"Leo, stop!" Charlie shoved him against one side. "That is the French president! We need him if we are going to end the purge once and for all."
"Really, Charlie! You trust a guy that has you knocked out and forgets to mention it?"
"Sir, we have had several breeches…"
"Was I talking to you?! I didn't think so."
"Leo, you are out of line!"
"Mademoiselle, I need you and your security to sit down and buckle up for the remainder of the trip."
"Oh, right. We were supposed to be unconscious for this part."
"That is not true, sir. You were supposed to be awake after the plane landed."
"Right," said Leo sliding into the seat beside Charlie.
"Shut up," she muttered, glaring at him behind her glasses.
"Listen to me…"
"We will discuss this later," she said in an eerily calm voice that convinced Leo she felt the same way he did. As she was about to sit back, a gunshot shook the van. Instinctively, Charlie shielded her head, and Leo reached for his gun.
"Where did that come from?!"
"France, like the rest of the world, has been plagued with riots. You've really upset a lot of people, Madam President."
"It's Charlie," she said pushing her glasses back to the top of her nose.
"We are in a level 8 zone of unrest, Charlie. Loads of riots. Loads of artillery. We have attempted to contain it as much as possible, but people have the right to protest."
"Do they have the right to inflict harm on innocent people?"
"I hope you are not speaking of yourself," the guard next to her smirked.
"Actually," retorted Charlie, disgusted, "I'm talking about the homeless man they are lynching!"
"The military is doing their best to keep the situation under control."
"We have to help him." She glanced over at Leo.
"No. It's too dangerous."
"I don't think I was asking."
"If you do not calm down, Charlie, we will have no choice, but to knock the two of you out again. You are far too important to risk your life over that low life."
Realizing that they were serious, she slumped against the seat and shifted her head to witness the man's death. Someone had tied a rope around one end of a motor bike while five other men held the condemned down, forming a noose around his neck. She focused her gaze on the phone in her hands as the motorcycle engine revved up.
"Hey, we're going to end this."
"I know," she said, finally looking up, nodding her head up and down, "I know."
Twenty minutes later, a guard tapped her on the shoulder. "We've arrived at Élysée Palace."
"Bonjour!" exclaimed President Bisset as Charlie climbed out of the van. He gave her an air kiss on both cheeks before shaking her hand.
"Bonjour, President Bisset. It is an honour to make your acquaintance. This is my head of security, Leo."
"Leo. Well, I have had your room prepared, but unfortunately I did not know of Leo. There is a couch in your room, Charlie…"
"That is fine, sir," said Leo, not wanting to go into further detail.
"Alright. You get settled in and then knock on my office door when you are ready, Charlie. It is the third door on your right from your room."
"Merci beaucoup," she said, grabbing her black suitcase and matching bag.
"Do you need help?"
"I got it, Leo, thanks." The pair made their way to their quarters. It was more a room containing numerous rooms. There was an open space with three white couches and a marble fireplace. On the far left side of the room was an enormous balcony. To the right were three doors. One led to an enclosed office. The middle one led to a bedroom. The third led to a bathroom complete with a jacuzzi, a standing shower, two sinks, and a sizable towel closet. Leo immediately turned off all of the lights and produced what looked like a stage light.
"Good thinking," said Charlie. She retrieved something that resembles a pen with no point. She clicked the top down, shooting out a thin white line of light.
"I'll check the office." Leo nodded as she exited. 30 minutes later the pair met in Charlie's bedroom.
"This is the only place that doesn't have wired bugs," she whispered.
"I don't think it's safe here. I don't trust Bisset." For the first time since they left, she made eye contact with him.
"I don't either. But we cannot be absurdly obvious like you were in the van!"
"I was just trying to get answers. Why were you so complacent?"
"I wasn't! How did you know they weren't purgers? You could have gotten us killed talking to them like that!"
"Oh, so now everyone's a purger? C'mon, Charlie!"
"I didn't say that, but they could have been in disguise, and you kept on pissing them off!"
"Look, I did what I thought was right. Just drop it."
"That is a half-assed excuse."
"I am trying to keep you safe," Leo said gripping both of her shoulders, "but you make my job nearly impossible."
"As if my job is any easier!" fumed Charlie.
"I'm sorry. That's not what I..."
"...meant. Of course not." She used the back of her hand to push her glasses up. "I think it's time that I get some answers." She walked down the hall and knocked twice on the office door.
"Only you are allowed in Miss. Roan. I am terribly sorry."
"I understand. Leo will be more than gracious and wait outside for me." Throwing her a venomous glare, Leo turned his back as she entered Bisset's office.