Tom heard my anguished cry, spun around and clocked me. I had never been knocked out before. It was such a strange sensation. To be perfectly aware one moment and completely gone the next. That last moment I could feel the weight of disappointment.

The plan wasn’t working. Why did I have to follow Mendez. What reason would I have to follow him when he said, trust me? If there was anyone I had reason not to trust it was him. Could I have been any stupider? He had a hunting knife in his hands, for crying out loud.

All those thoughts and many others spiked my consciousness as Tom connected and I crumpled to the ground, no more thoughts.

Some time later I woke up, my head spinning. I felt like I was gonna be sick.

“What happened?” I asked, groggily.

“I think it worked.” Mendez grinned slyly. “He’s some kind of hero. There’s no way she doesn’t fall for him now. If we could just convince him to crush her.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, dazed and confused.