"Shit!" He said under his breath, there was a tint of anger to his word as well. It wasn't meant for anyone to hear, it wasn't even meant to be said but it slipped out. The kids were still there and now a battle was about to break out? No, it was too soon, to... wrong. He couldn't help me himself. His heart was thumping out of his chest and a sinking feeling entered his gut. He stopped as well, a sour look on his face. "I'm know I am going to regret this in the morning.... Come on Kiera." He rubbed his face and let out a sigh. He knew this was a horrible idea but it couldn't be helped at this point, he had to do the right thing.
With Kiera in tow, he ran back into the exhibit and loudly proclaimed greetings to the kids that he deeply cared about. "Hello there children!" Like a cult leader beckoning his followers, the younger members of the group ran to towards him in joy. He kneeled and opened his arms up. They ran into his outstretched arms and smiles on each of their faces. There may have been four of them but it was it looked like a mob had just jumped on Eli. The rest of them were in their early to late teens, another six of them in total. After exchanging pleasantries with the four that had knocked him over Eli quickly got to his feet. Eli was smiling and laughing like an idiot. It was for him, like a little piece of Heaven on Earth. "Have y'all been actin right?" His accent gave way to a southern tone. "Yeeah." All four of them said in near unison. "Awesome." Eli was enthusiastic in his tone. "Why not give me and them look outs time for a little talk and y'all can go on for some ice cream." Eli said waving over the two eldest members of the group. One male and a female, both looked to be in their late teens to early twenties. All but the two eldest were ushered away by other members of the group, in the back of his mind he had hoped that Kiera would join them in exploration of the exhibits. That was as much thought as he gave her.
"Get'em outta here. Now. This ain't up for debate." Eli's voice was stern, gone was the cherry way he was talking to the kids. Now was time to get them out of there. Eli pulled a large wad of money. He didn't bother counting the amount, that wasn't important. "Go take em to some ice cream anywhere that ain't here. Am I clear?" Eli was emphatic in his words. "We can help you, let us do something." The male protested "I don't need any help, there is no one in this city that I can't take. That includes Scorn and her fuckin ilk. I can't do that if I have to worry about these kids. Take them shopping, get em food, I don't give a shit just get em gone." Eli was growing angry and it was showing. "Fine!" Stated the male with the girl looking just as unhappy as her male counterpart. "It's about to get bad around here. This isn't about what you can or can't do. This is about them kids and keeping them safe. They ought not to have to see what's gonna happen here." Eli rubbed his head and walked back to the kids who were now with Kiera. "How goes it here kids." He said in a mock joyful tone, trying to smile but it wasn't working out all that well.