IAIN KELLY

(VIRTUAL) REALITY

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.


Copyright Roger Bulltot

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.

75 responses to “(VIRTUAL) REALITY”

  1. beautyswot Avatar

    Oh no! Who would want to hurt him

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Sandra Avatar

    Sometimes this VR thing has a few glitches that need ironing out. 😦

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Sometimes it can be all too real, better to just watch TV or read a book I think 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

        Sounds safer!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Fandango Avatar

    There are some technological “advancements” that I’m not that eager to try out.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. shehannemoore Avatar

    Excellent piece Iain.

    Like

  5. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I can see reality coming … you never know if the enemies are sneaking up behind the cover of virtual walls.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. scr4pl80 Avatar

      I’ve never tried one of those virtual reality things and now I’m pretty sure I don’t want to!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Iain Kelly Avatar

        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…

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Iain Kelly Avatar

      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!

      Like

      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        Can they involve rugged men in kilts from say… the 18th century? 😉

        Liked by 4 people

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        If you so choose – watch out for their big sharp swords, mind 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        LOL! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      4. rgayer55 Avatar

        Oh, the possibilities (says Dale)

        Liked by 1 person

  6. James Avatar

    That virtual reality was far too real for my tastes. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Certainly not what he signed up for. Thanks James.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Lynn Love Avatar

    VR with too much R and not enough V! A well written tale, Iain, though of course I want to know who’s attacking …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      And what he’s done to deserve it. Thanks Lynn.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        Ha! Good point. My pleasure

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    When I saw the (virtual)… I had a feeling things would not turn out quite as planned. Scary thought.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dale.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    I thought this would be a really cool thing to do until the blood…yikes!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Hopefully VR will be cool and not dangerous in the future!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith. Would certainly be an interesting place and time to recreate in VR, so long as it stayed virtual 🙂

      Like

  11. Joy Pixley Avatar

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s the way I intended it rather than anything more supernatural, but both are interesting ways to go with it.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. pennygadd51 Avatar

    I’m definitely declining the headset next time it’s offered! What a horrible shock that would have been!

    Like

  13. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    It all seemed to be going so well. Thanks for the surprise ending.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You can’t trust this new technology! Thanks Alicia.

      Like

  14. Kelvin M. Knight's blog Avatar

    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? 🤔

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That’s the mystery to be continued. Thanks Kelvin.

      Like

  15. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Ready player one!

    Like

  16. plaridel Avatar

    i guess it’s the new reality that will become more pronounced as technology advances further.

    Like

  17. draliman Avatar

    Now that’s what I call VR. The full experience! Nice one.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Ah one of those entertainment excursions gone terribly wrong. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

  19. rgayer55 Avatar

    Clever take on the prompt, Iain. Geez, what’s next, boiling oil?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That costs extra – the deluxe experience.

      Like

  20. Esha M Dutta Avatar

    Very dramatic scene-setting and rather scary! A unique take on the prompt, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Esha.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    When he wakes up he gets charged extra for the ‘feel’ aspect of his virtual adventure. 😀 I love it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Absolutely, you get what you pay for!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Some of the new technology around virtual reality does scare me a bit!

      Like

  22. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haha, the culprit has been found! Thanks Michael.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Kat Myrman Avatar

    Wow. Gripping story Iain! Too much realism for me…VR!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Best left alone I think. Reality on its own is enough to cope with!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Kat Myrman Avatar

        You are so right about that! We can’t make some of this stuff up!

        Liked by 1 person

  24. granonine Avatar

    Excellent piece. Scary. I think I’ll leave virtual reality for someone else to play with 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Jelli Avatar
    Jelli

    Oh, now that one is excellently told… had me on the edge of the stone wall looking for the incoming arrows, it did. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Jelli 🙂

      Like

  26. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oooo VR and reality colliding. I love this Iain. I do think our minds are powerful enough to reinforce what we see. Well told

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie, certainly think VR the way it is being developed has the potential for both good and bad effects.

      Like

      1. Laurie Bell Avatar

        I think so too.

        Liked by 1 person

  27. Moon Avatar
    Moon

    Loved the title of your story , Iain and the suddenness of the end .

    Liked by 1 person

  28. justjoyfulness Avatar

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, very kind.

      Like

  29. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    Whoosh! Dang headsets!
    I love this idea, so imaginative and you’ve subtly left it to the reader, which I also love.
    Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Dahlia Avatar

    Eerily reminiscent of the game Blue Whale which has forced young teenagers to commit suicide. Scary and realistic write Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Alice Audrey Avatar

    That’s a little TOO real!

    Liked by 1 person

  32. subroto Avatar

    Ouch! Is that a feature or a bug? Nice one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      In his case a bug, but could be a feature if you pay extra for it!

      Like

  33. amiewrites74 Avatar

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Amie!

      Liked by 1 person

  34. Sarah Potter Writes Avatar

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I think addiction is a more realistic danger, but you never know where it may lead!

      Liked by 1 person

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