Brothers

Colin watched, in morbid fascination, as the giant spider negotiated it's way across the living room toward him. He fumbled again with the key, trying to unlock the door to the balcony, swearing at the security company as he tried different combinations.

“Get away.” He yelled, finally hitting the right combination.

The Creature sped forward, blocking the balcony door before Colin had time to shut it. “No.”

Colin backed away, shaking his head. 'I'm having a psychotic break. It will pass. My stress levels are through the proverbial roof. It's just an hallucination. It isn't real' Colin told himself.

Eight hairy legs, each tipped with a claw, moved purposely toward him.

"You don't scare me." Colin said, shaking like a leaf.

“You killed my little brother.” It said, ominously.

“I...No I didn't. You're the first spider I've seen in months and you're not even real. Spiders don't come in car size. They just don't.”

“You are Chris of 668 DaVinci Hall, aren't you?”

“No, Colin, 666.”

Music drowned out the response, but Colin sensed a change in the giant spiders demeanour.

“That's Chris.” He said.

Chris, the new arrival in the block, the reason for his stress levels, the reason for this hallucination.

“Oh. Sorry about the mix-up. It's hard to focus all these eyes on a single target.”

“Think nothing...” Colin stopped. The creature had vanished.

**** **** ****

Colin listened as the music stopped abruptly, only to be replaced by a brief scream.

“You killed my little brother.”

“I set him free.”

“From a tenth storey balcony?”

“I thought it would spin a web, save itself...I didn't stomp on it.” Chris said, defiant, despite her fear.

“I think humans can fly.”

Chris screamed. A car alarm sounded.

“Oops. I guess they can't.”

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