Dig the groove, the bass making the ground tremor.
It robs me of my vital sense, obliterating the noises I need to guide me.
I don’t care, I’m along for the ride.
The crowd surrounds, a swaying mass that cocoons me.
I am lost in the music.
Then.
An offbeat rhythm disconcerts. A sudden surge pushes violently.
Panic sets in. Are the surrounding screams of terror?
I have no control, I am swept along.
I fall. Someone lands on top of me.
Then laughter.
Hands pull me up. Apologies all round.
A cheer as a new bass line kicks in.
I am lost in the music.

Written for Friday Fictioneers 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.
My new novel, ‘State Of War’, the final part of The State Trilogy, officially launches THIS MONDAY, 25th MAY on eBook and Paperback.
You can find it to buy or pre-order by following the links below:
US/AMAZON.COM AMAZON.CO.UK SMASHWORDS BARNES & NOBLE KOBO BOOK DEPOSITORY
Also available from APPLE BOOKS
A JUSTIFIED STATE and STATE OF DENIAL, books one and two of the trilogy are also available. Follow the links on this page: AVAILABLE NOW
If any bloggers would like to host a guest blog about the book, please get in touch, and all reviews and shout-outs are greatly appreciated.
77 responses to “BLINDSIDED”
Great sense of atmosphere in this, Iain. Crowds can do that
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Thanks Neil
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Sounds like a head banger. I can feel the music.
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Don’t get too carried away!
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The music and passion!
One can easily get lost! Cheers!
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Thank you Anita
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We’ve all been there, Iain!
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Thanks CE
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You literally have the reader swaying.
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Thanks Reena
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Dear Iain,
Been there, done that. 😉 You set the tone and created the atmosphere. Felt like I was there again. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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Good stuff – I was right there with him! Well done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks Susan
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Good one!
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Thank you
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You’re welcome
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Music does that to you, doesn’t it?
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It certainly can.
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Stay away from the brown acid, man 😉
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Yes Dad 😉
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You nailed the feelings, Iain. I’m a musician myself and I know that feeling big time. You can’t just “write” a story about this, it has to be poetic because — it just makes more sense to do so.
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Thank you, nice compliment 🙂
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You are MOST welcome.
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Iain, great story. It reminded me of the terrorist attacks in Paris and the explosions in the concert venue. I was at the Sydney Writer’s Festival and fortunately inbetween sessions when a robotic voice started bleating: “Evacuate! Evacuate!”
I was naturally concerned, and tried to find out what was going on to inform my response. Should I be running for my life? Was there a fire? False alarm?
Meanwhile, I can relate not only to losing myself in the sounds of music, but also the sounds of nature. Yesterday, I went for a bushwalk and I was listening to the rolling of the surf, birds, leaves and stones crunching under foot. It was transformative and very attractive atm.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thanks Rowena. I had in mind the shootings in Vegas from a couple of years ago, but wanted to avoid the tragic ending this week.
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It’s amazing to hear that someone from FF has avoided a tragic ending. We do them so well. However, we have enough tragedy around us atm. Don’t need to make it up.
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Excellent – assuming you’re not blind, you have captured it perfectly.
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Thanks Liz. I may have been too subtle as most seemed to have missed the blind part of the story,so thank you for noticing!
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Clever writing, Iain. It took me a second reading to realise that your MC was literally blind, even though you told us “It robs me of my vital sense, obliterating the noises I need to guide me.” And the title’s a bit of a clue, too! Great courage shown by your MC going to a concert like that.
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Thanks Penny, I fear I have been too subtle, but the story seems to work whether the reader catches the blindness or not, which in a way, is quite pleasing, as the disability is being overlooked!
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A lot of chaos going on there for a moment, but happily it passed. Good setting of tension!
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Thank you
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You’re welcome.
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Oh yeah. I have been there. I’m listening to Gov’t Mule playing “Cinnamon Girl” right now, and yeah, if there’s typos in this note, It’s Gov’t Mule’s fault. Music truly can take you away.
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We all have those great memories of concerts 🙂
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Music is a world in which one can get lost, delightfully so.
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A good place to escape to in current times too.
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Love this, especially as someone who is honestly terrified in large crowds. I feel like this is – among other things – a useful metaphor for how I’m going to feel going back to work when work (finally) re-opens. And there are people everywhere again. Deep breaths. =D
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Thanks Anne. I have to be honest, I’m really enjoying my near empty work building at the moment, and will be quite annoyed when others start coming back to work here!
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Music can be quite overwhelming, a language and world of its own
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Thanks Larry
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This was fabulous, Iain. The terror to be blind and be swept away but at the same time the joy in being swept away and with the music. Really good!
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Thanks Dale 🙂
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Excellent. A disconcerting enough experience for those not so afflicted, but it must be a nightmare for the blind. The story rose quickly to a crescendo and then faded just as quickly. Nicely paced.
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Thanks so much Sandra, much appreciated 🙂
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Really atmospheric – I think we were both at the same venue this week Iain!
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Socially distanced though, of course!
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…but of course!
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I like how you described the body immersed and absorbed into the sound.
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Thanks James
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I was thinking, “Space alien attack! RUN!” I like your version better 🙂
Can’t wait for you new book, Iain!
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Thanks Linda, only the weekend to wait, hope you like it! 🙂
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I’m sure I will 🙂
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A terrifying moment when you can’t see what’s happening.
I always console myself that if I ever lose my sight, I’ll still have music.
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And vice versa – I could cope with one or the other, losing both would be awful.
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it looks like he’s high on something, too. just fine with me. 🙂
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A musical high for sure.
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Great choppy lines that convey the disconnected nature of the dance and the music and possibly drugs??
Well written Iain.
Throw ya hands up in the air, dance around like ya don’t care! Woooooo!
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Haha, I imagine you would be great fun at a gig! 😉
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Hahaha
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I like the repetition of lost in the music. That is so easily done. And we’ve all been there, I hope.
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Thanks Alicia 🙂
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Yep, that’s what live concerts are like! Congratulations on your novel, Iain!
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Thank you, do check it out if you get a chance! 🙂
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Ah, music is certainly a landscape to be lost in! Sometimes more dramatically than other times … let alone in a crowd!
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Thank you – it certainly is 🙂
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Well, that was a little scary.
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Thanks Dawn
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Am I wrong to think that the key is in the title? Blindsided. Is the character blind, enjoying the music and this throws his world off-balance because of all of the surrounding sensations and the volume of the music? Regardless, you’ve just done a fantastic job with the sensations building around your character. Well done is an understatement.
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You are correct! I think a few might have missed it, but it works either way 🙂
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A crowd surge can be a truly frightening thing compounded, I presume, to a horrible degree, when you’re blind. Well told Iain
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Thanks Michael
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Music can just blow you away. And I love how you built the atmosphere and set the tone for a jolly good concert, Iain.
Wonderfully told indeed.
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Thank you Natasha 🙂
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I really felt the abandonment and losing yourself in the beat,the music, merging yourself in the sounds and the rhythms. Well done.
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Thank you
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