"I don't know." Ariel sniffled. "If we throw her out, then the kids will suffer. They are innocent."
Sunshine rubbed circles on his back. "I know." It was the same morality issue she had. "We will figure it out slowly sweetie, we don't need all the answers today. For now, I am so angry with you for not coming to me first. On one hand, you should be punished."
Ariel's eyes went wide with a fresh wave of panic. "Are... are you going to tell dad?" The thought of his father's disappointed face was clearly more terrifying than a pack of mutants.
"Not for now," Sunshine sighed, giving him a small, tired smile. "But you're going to fix this. You're going to make it right with those kids, and I'm going to help you figure out how. Deal?"
"Deal," Ariel whispered, looking immensely relieved. He could still hear their frightened screaming and crying. It reminded him too much of Earl's when he found him under the table.
