Of the many spiders in the world, there are a small number whose bites are considered clinically significant. This means the bites are very harmful to humans. The two most well known are the Brown Recluse, also known as the fiddle back, and the Black Widow, sometimes called the southern widow. The third lesser known is the Hobo Spider. A bite from the Hobo Spider is not as severe as the Brown Recluse but on rare occasions, victims can display other symptoms. Mainly, they can mutate and turn into the Hobo Spider-Man.
The Hobo Spider-Man is a most interesting creature. He scavenges trashcans and dumpsters for food and alcohol. He will often stand on street corners asking for change and if the person is unwilling to give, he will use his webbing that he shoots from his arm to restrain them long enough for him to search their pockets and run off with whatever he finds. He has been known to build webs in alleys to catch rival hobos so he might have no begging competition.
When police chase after him, he scales the wall of a building with ease to avoid imprisonment. Yes, the Hobo Spider-Man is a menace to society, so be cautious and steadfast so that you don’t get bitten and become the Hobo Spider-Man.
I have a new eBook that will be released on Monday, October 16. It is available for pre-order and it will download automatically on Monday if you do. It is only $0.99 and includes two versions of one story. The original was first published in 2015 in my collection of short stories, Killers, Monsters, & Madmen. The second version is the story in its entirety. There was a lot of the story cut out for the first publication and now you can read the whole thing. This story will also be included in my forthcoming collection of short fiction titled, Morbid Museum.
James Pack 