Danny stood in the remnants of the castle.
‘Put on your headset,’ the woman instructed him. He did so.
Danny now saw the castle in it’s past glory. He could move around and see the world as it had once been.
A loud blowing horn sounded. Someone yelled ‘We’re under attack.’
Danny felt a swish of air. A cascade of virtual arrows falling from the sky.
He felt a sharp pain in his side. Instinctively he covered it with his hand. It felt damp. He whipped off his headset and stared down at his own blood.
He collapsed among the silent ruins.
Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Iain Kelly 
75 responses to “(VIRTUAL) REALITY”
Oh no! Who would want to hurt him
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Sometimes this VR thing has a few glitches that need ironing out. 😦
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Sometimes it can be all too real, better to just watch TV or read a book I think 🙂
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Sounds safer!
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There are some technological “advancements” that I’m not that eager to try out.
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Excellent piece Iain.
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I can see reality coming … you never know if the enemies are sneaking up behind the cover of virtual walls.
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I’ve never tried one of those virtual reality things and now I’m pretty sure I don’t want to!
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I’ve had the odd try and they can be good. I’m still slightly cynical about how widespread they will become. Will every household have them in their living rooms? I’m not so sure – remember a few years ago we were all being sold 3D television as the next big thing…
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It’s only a matter of time before people get lost in virtual reality – and crime will always be one of the first to take advantage in many mysterious ways!
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Can they involve rugged men in kilts from say… the 18th century? 😉
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If you so choose – watch out for their big sharp swords, mind 😉
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LOL! 😀
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Oh, the possibilities (says Dale)
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That virtual reality was far too real for my tastes. 😉
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Certainly not what he signed up for. Thanks James.
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VR with too much R and not enough V! A well written tale, Iain, though of course I want to know who’s attacking …
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And what he’s done to deserve it. Thanks Lynn.
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Ha! Good point. My pleasure
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When I saw the (virtual)… I had a feeling things would not turn out quite as planned. Scary thought.
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Thanks Dale.
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I thought this would be a really cool thing to do until the blood…yikes!
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Hopefully VR will be cool and not dangerous in the future!
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Living in 1066 country I worry enough about stray arrows causing me a problem as it is! I certainly wouldn’t wander around Hastings with a virtual reality thingamajig on my head! Nice one Iain.
Click to read my FriFic
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Thanks Keith. Would certainly be an interesting place and time to recreate in VR, so long as it stayed virtual 🙂
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Interesting idea, that someone would use the cover of virtual reality to mask an actual attack — at least, that’s one way to interpret this. Either way, he’s in trouble!
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That’s the way I intended it rather than anything more supernatural, but both are interesting ways to go with it.
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I’m definitely declining the headset next time it’s offered! What a horrible shock that would have been!
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It all seemed to be going so well. Thanks for the surprise ending.
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You can’t trust this new technology! Thanks Alicia.
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An arrow in the side, could’ve been worse. Could have been a sword in the back! 😬 Guess someone disabled the safety protocols . I wonder who? 🤔
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That’s the mystery to be continued. Thanks Kelvin.
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Ready player one!
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i guess it’s the new reality that will become more pronounced as technology advances further.
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Now that’s what I call VR. The full experience! Nice one.
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Thanks
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Dear Iain,
Ah one of those entertainment excursions gone terribly wrong. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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Clever take on the prompt, Iain. Geez, what’s next, boiling oil?
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That costs extra – the deluxe experience.
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Very dramatic scene-setting and rather scary! A unique take on the prompt, Iain.
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Thank you Esha.
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When he wakes up he gets charged extra for the ‘feel’ aspect of his virtual adventure. 😀 I love it.
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Absolutely, you get what you pay for!
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This is scary, Iain.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/08/helpless.html
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Some of the new technology around virtual reality does scare me a bit!
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I guess that he will not be able to describe his attacker. Robinhood will be relieved. I have told him no more mead. Yours Little John.
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Haha, the culprit has been found! Thanks Michael.
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Wow. Gripping story Iain! Too much realism for me…VR!
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Best left alone I think. Reality on its own is enough to cope with!
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You are so right about that! We can’t make some of this stuff up!
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Excellent piece. Scary. I think I’ll leave virtual reality for someone else to play with 🙂
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Me too!
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Oh, now that one is excellently told… had me on the edge of the stone wall looking for the incoming arrows, it did. 🙂
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Thanks Jelli 🙂
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Oooo VR and reality colliding. I love this Iain. I do think our minds are powerful enough to reinforce what we see. Well told
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Thanks Laurie, certainly think VR the way it is being developed has the potential for both good and bad effects.
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I think so too.
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Loved the title of your story , Iain and the suddenness of the end .
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Thank you
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Nice take on the picture.
Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says
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Thank you
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The power of suggestion can be very powerful indeed. Our mind can sometimes not distinguish between reality and fantasy. Great take on the prompt, Iain. Very imaginative!
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Thank you, very kind.
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Whoosh! Dang headsets!
I love this idea, so imaginative and you’ve subtly left it to the reader, which I also love.
Well done!
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Thank you
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Eerily reminiscent of the game Blue Whale which has forced young teenagers to commit suicide. Scary and realistic write Iain.
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Thank you
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That’s a little TOO real!
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Ouch! Is that a feature or a bug? Nice one.
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In his case a bug, but could be a feature if you pay extra for it!
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Someone taking advantage of a man in a VR headset to commit a crime… brilliant idea and unique take on the prompt. I really enjoyed this!
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Thank you Amie!
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I’ve just been reading a book by a psychologist, where he mentions the dangers of addiction to VR games in the future, but it seems there are some life-threatening dangers, too!
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I think addiction is a more realistic danger, but you never know where it may lead!
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