The sunlight pierced Ender's eyes as the door to the shed slid open. He used his frail arm to cover his face as he backed into the corner. If he didn't talk, he wouldn't be punished. If he showed fear, he'd be left alone. Someone said something that he didn't understand. The plastic water bowl made a scraping noise as it was lifted and sat back down. A wrapper from his dried ready to eat meal crinkled as the individual approached him.
"I didn't hear you!" Ender yelled, quickly scrambling his boney body from one corner to the other.
"We're here for you." The agent said, taking a step inside, but stopped as the smell hit his nose, "That's terrible!" He turned to the other agent and shook his head in disgust. He lifed his shirt over his nose.
Ender put up no resistance when the agent lifted him over his shoulder.
"They should burn that place," the agent muttered as they crossed the backyard. They marched around the empty house towards the car parked out front.
"Put him down right now." Quint's voice yelled from the driver's seat of the car, "And give him one of your shirts, my goodness."
The first agent unbuttoned his shirt and wrapped it around Ender, who was now glancing between the two men and the car before him. The agents aided Ender to the car and opened the front passenger seat next to Quint. They turned and walked down the street to their own vehicle and pulled away.
"My goodness, what did they do?” Quint stared at Ender’s sickly figure, “This is an atrocity. They will be punished dearly, all of them. I don’t know what to say. What did they do to you? Was this Jack? Or did you call him Gary? Did he do this to you?”
Ender looked at Quint, not sure if this was somehow another one of Gary's tests. He didn't speak. He was confused and fairly certain he was hallucinating again.
Quint pulled his phone to his ear, "We have Ender, you can lock Jack up for the weekend. Don't give him food or water. Hurt him, but don’t kill him. I want him alive on Monday," He paused, listening to the response, "Yes, I said, don't give him any food." And hung up.
"Ender," Quint started, "I don't know what they've done to you, but I promise I'm going to make it right. I'm going to make everything alright." They pulled from the curb. Quint lowered all four of the windows to let the breeze help with the stench. He sped well over the limit as the rage of the finding came in waves. How could they do this? How had he let this happen?
It was a long silent ride back to his Palo Alto home. The sun had started to set when they pulled into the garage. Quint got out of his seat first and aided Ender out of his position. He hadn't told his wife they'd be having company yet, partially because he didn't think Jack had told him the actual location of Ender. The pair entered the house from the garage.
“Honey did you get my message?” Mrs. Morton stepped into the hallway. She stopped and examined Ender, then turned to Quint with a look of confusion.
"I'm sorry to spring this on you, but he's going to stay here a night or two. I'll talk to you in private later."
"I'm not sure we—" she stopped when she saw Quint's eyes get big and nod. "Ok, I can get the guest room ready." She stepped aside allowing the pair to pass. As they passed, she added, "Did you get my message?"
Over his shoulder, Quint admitted, "No, I left my personal phone in the office."
"Oh ok, well, a gentleman showed up about a half-hour ago to see you."
Quint quickly turned. Nobody came by his house that his wife didn't know, "What did he want?"
"Said he’s an old friend. He insisted he'd wait until you came back. He’s very nice.”
"Is he in my offic—”
Quint’s words were cut short as a man stepped into the hallway from the living room. Quint’s face went white.
It was Stanley Castillo.