Shake his hand.

It's a lose/lose situation anyway, might as well try to save as many lives as you can. Your hand burns as you shake his hand. When you look at your palm, an intricate series of lines and circles have been etched into your skin. "Smart choice." Djal says, leaning back in his seat. He picks his cup up and motions for you to do the same. You do so, and he clinks them together before taking another long sip.

You spend a long time sitting in silence, thinking about what you've just agreed to. Thoughts of what happened in Virginia's office seep into your mind and it is very obvious on your face. "I wouldn't worry about her," Djal says. "After what you've done, she'll ease off on you. And because you've planted your seed in her, she'll eventually come to 'love' you." He shudders at that word. "Bad choice of words there. 'Worship' would be more accurate."

Your house phone rings and snaps you out of your state. "Hey, you." It's Melissa. "Can you come to your kitchen window? Need to ask you something, but I need both hands right now. Oh shoot!" You hear her phone slam and rush over to the kitchen.

Melissa has opened her window and is coughing loudly as smoke billows out around her. "You okay, Melissa?" You shout from your window.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." She replies, wafting the smoke away from her face. "The onions aren't though. Anyway listen, Katie's going to be spending the night with one of her friends tonight, so I was thinking that, maybe you could join me for dinner? If it's not too much trouble, I mean."

"Would be rude to say no to such a pretty lady's invitation." Djal says off to the side, licking his entire face with his long tongue.