Before I Go: A dark and tense psychological crime thriller. by Marie Reyes (reading strategies book txt) 📕

been spilled on the table. Reflections from the pool danced across Josie’s face and he had to stop himself from staring as strange shapes shifted across her, making her ripple.

“I was thinking of ordering the chilaquiles.” Her mouth distorted in an unnatural way as she spoke, and Michael’s brain tried to make sense of what was happening. “Are you okay?” Her voice anchored him and her face went back to normal.

“Listen. I don’t want to freak you out or anything, but I took some mescaline earlier, so I might act a bit weird.”

“Ah man.” She laughed. “You’re in for an interesting night.”

“You’ve tried it? he asked, hoping for some wise guide to talk him through it.”

“Hell no. I’ve read about it though.” She leaned in closer to him, studying his face like he was a science experiment. “Are you hallucinating right now?”

“Not exactly. Kinda.”

“What can you see now?” Her chair scraped across the concrete as she pulled in closer.

“Nothing looks right. It’s hard to describe. You kind of look like a cartoon character right now.”

“A cartoon character.” She looked amused. “Like Jessica Rabbit, or Elmer Fudd? What are we talking about here?”

“Definitely the Jessica Rabbit end of the spectrum. And your eyes are a bit swirly. I don’t know. It’s hard to describe.”

“I take it you’re not up for food then?”

“I ate back in the room.” His mouth dried up as if he had run out of words for the day. “I think I have to go.” As everything seemed to spin, his room seemed a million miles away.

“You don’t look so good. Do you want me to help you to your room?”

“You don’t have to.” He protested, slightly embarrassed, his stomach tossing and turning like a dingy in a squall.

“Well, I’m not giving you the choice. I’m not leaving you in this state.” She stood up and offered for him to lean on her as he got up.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” He heard his own voice, and it sounded pathetic.

She tilted her head to one side as if deep in thought. “People need to look out for each other. It’s not safe.”

It’s not safe. The words sent a chill down his spine and felt like a warning.

“Come on you. You’re gonna be fine.” Her voice was reassuring. She sounded so certain in her words. Maybe he would be fine. She guided him feebly up the path like a nurse taking an elderly person to the bathroom.

“Now this is a tricky bit,” she said as they navigated the steps that felt twice as tall as earlier. The lobby was painfully bright, and Michael looked down at his feet until he was safely in the elevator.  “Are you going to be alright if I leave you here?” she asked when she reached her floor.

“Yes. Thank you. I’m sorry.”

She got out and turned back to him. “Don’t be sorry.” She gave him a wave before the doors slid shut behind her.

The corridor seemed to get longer and longer as Michael walked towards his room, like something from a Hitchcock movie. He hurried his pace as his stomach protested, burst through the door, bolted to the bathroom and emptied the contents of his stomach.

Chapter Six

The grounds of the hotel resort looked less glamorous in the cold light of day, without the romantic glow of fairy lights. As he passed the pool, he screwed his face up at the bodies of floating insects that had met their demise there. Having only managed about an hour or two of sleep, he was certain he looked like shit, but he couldn’t wait. He had to thank Josie for looking after him. His head was a little sore, but he had been expecting much worse. Sunglasses shielded his delicate eyes from the intense morning light, and everything was a murky shade of brown through the lenses.

Hordes of people swarmed around the pool, staking their claim by laying their beach towels across chairs and then heading to the bar to stock up on drinks. Despite the early hour, plenty of people already had a cocktail or two in their hands. One man looked like he had already raided the bar and leaned over, slurring at an uncomfortable-looking woman whose eyes darted around desperately for a distraction.

He would never find her at this rate. The bar was full of people vying to get served before everybody else. It was a free for all with no order to be seen. None of them were her. It might have been quicker to grab a coffee in his room, but he was already downstairs now, so he may as well enter the fray.

By the time Michael managed to get served, most of the other customers had already left for the pool, the beach, or one of the many excursions the hotel arranged. He ordered himself a coffee, and the earthy smell of those freshly ground beans woke him up a little. He sat at the back of the bar watching each new person as they came in and took a sip of his steaming coffee, enjoying the peace. Today, he only had one goal, and in the meantime, he could revel in the pleasure of doing nothing in particular. He’d spent the last few days hiking, swimming in the underground caves of cenotes, and clambering on ruins, and now, was time to relax. The palm fronds swayed in the distance as his eyes followed them backwards and forwards as he zoned out.

A stab of anxiety jabbed him out of nowhere. The peace and relaxation had made him let his guard down, and his body brought him back down to earth—reality waits for no man.

He pictured his last few moments, hoping he would feel relief, but with a strong inkling that survival mode might kick in to fuck everything up. He knew if he listened to that doubting voice inside him, that he would regret it. He couldn’t go back to his normal life. There was