Rejected

I wrote this for the Prose challenge this week. I ended up on a roll with this one and it came out too long. Still, I wanted to share it with you guys anyway. 

Handprint Accepted…

The scanner’s green letters shone as Luke lifted his hand off of it on the side of the door. He heard it unlock and was able to push it open into his home. He could still smell the coffee he had made this morning before work. He took his coat off and hung it near the door. The magnet hidden in the collar stuck to the wall. He placed four fingers on a blank spot near the coat. Four soft, blue lights lit up under each finger. He swiped up and the his home grew brighter as the lights came on.

Luke felt good to be home. He had had another long week. He was an engineer for HRI (Home Robotics Inc.). It was a demanding job. At least, it had been since the company laid off a number of the older employees to bring in some fresh blood. He enjoyed his work though. His home was a product of most of the hard hours he had put in. He was proud of it.

It was Friday and he was happy to have a few days off. He seemed to melt into his favorite recliner chair in the living room. He leaned back and the foot rest popped out under his legs.

“Some technology doesn't need tinkering with.” He smiled and said to himself. He reached over and grabbed a clear plastic sheet from the side table. It lit up when he touched the top right corner. His TV came on as he leaned further back into the chair. He let go a sigh of relief. His weekend had begun.

Luke was just about to fall asleep when his phone began to ring. He grabbed it from the table and held his thumb on the screen to unlock it.

“Hello?”

“Luke! The guys and I are heading over to the Off Track to start this weekend off right. You coming?” His friend, Tom, seemed to have already had a few drinks before making the call.

“I was hoping to just relax at home tonight.”

“Oh, just come on.” In their circle of friends, that phrase was a lot more persuasive than Luke would like to admit.

“I’ll meet you guys there.” He set his phone down to enjoy one last quick second of quiet before heading out. He grabbed his coat and walked down alley towards the street. It wasn't much of a walk to the bar from here. Luke had always enjoyed living in the city. He never needed a car. Everything was within walking distance. It did have its perks but sometimes he had felt claustrophobic. Too many people and tall buildings has that effect on some people.

When he arrived at the bar, his three friends were standing around a tall table, chatting.

“Luke, you made it.” Jerry said as he handed him a frosty, copper mug.

“I’m only here to win back the money I lost last weekend.” He laughed and started pouring himself a beer from the portable keg on the table.

“Well, tonight you got Hank, I was stuck with him last weekend.”

“Hey, I’m getting better.” Hank slugged Jerry in the arm.

Luke pulled a card from his wallet and walked over to the machine that hung against the wall. He waved the card under the screen and it lit up. He selected the game and typed in the teams. The screen filled with a large dart board as he stepped back into the circle on the floor. Luke raised his empty hand into the air near his face. A dart hologram appeared in his hand. He threw his arm forward and the hologram sailed to the screen. As the game went on, the guys talked about their weeks and joked about life in general. Luke was happy he got talked into coming out tonight.

After the second game was over, so was their mini keg. Luke offered to go get it refilled. He could hear the guys laughing behind him. He looked back over his shoulder, “Don’t skip my turn this time!” Before he could turn around, he bumped into a guy sitting alone at the bar. He spilled the man’s beer in the process.

“The fuck is wrong with you?!” The guy stood up, wiping the suds from his lap, and knocking over the barstool. Everyone looked their way. This man looked as if he was enjoying the last beer he would ever have and Luke just spilled it all over him. His hair and clothes looked like they hadn't been washed in days. His gray beard still had some foam on it from his last sip of beer. His eyes dug into Luke’s.

“Hey buddy, I’m sorry. I didn't see you there.” Luke smiled to soften the situation.

“Buddy? I’m not your buddy. What are you smiling for?” The man slurred most of the sentence.

“It was an accident, man. Let me buy you another one.”

“You’ve done enough already, you little prick.”

The bartender walked over to calm the situation. After a few moments of back and forth, he persuaded the man to leave. He stumbled passed Luke. The smell of stale beer and cigarettes invaded his nostrils. He left the bar, barely keeping himself up.

The bartender told him not to worry about that guy. He explained how he comes in here, already buzzed and just gets angrier the more he drinks. It wasn't the first time he's been asked to leave.

“What was that all about?” Hank asked.

“Just some crazy, old man who had one too many.”

“Speaking of one too many, I see you forgot to refill the keg.” Jerry laughed shoving Luke's shoulder.

After another couple of dart games and a few drinks, Luke figured it was time to head home. His friends tried to convince him to stay for one more round. He remembers them using that same tactic three rounds ago. He was also promised a free cab ride if he stayed for another one. Luke didn't live too far and figured the walk home would be good for him. He went to the bartender and paid his tab.

Luke checked his phone and saw it was 2 AM. It was definitely time to head out. He walked down the street towards his house. After rounding the first corner down an alley, he saw a shadowy figure sitting on some steps outside an apartment complex. He tried to ignore it as he walked passed.

“You think I am some sort of charity case don't you?” The figure spoke.

“Who is that?” Luke asked as the it stood up and moved towards him. In the light he saw it was the man from the bar.

“I’m just a poor old drunk who can’t get by in life, is that it?” His voice was still slurred.

“What are you talking about? Is this about me running into you? I said I was sorry. It was a mistake and I offered to make it up to you. Are you honestly still pissed at me because I spilled your beer?” He had to hold himself from laughing. He thought this was ridiculous.

“I’m getting sick and tired of you and your smug generation. You all think you know better than everyone else. You don’t know a thing about the world around you and yet you walk as if you are gods among mortals.” He was walking closer to Luke.

“Look asshole, I don't know what you're talking about. Just leave me alone.” Luke was scared but tried to sound firm in his voice. He turned around and tried to just walk away. He felt a hand grab tight onto his shoulder. He spun around to see the man holding a knife. The street light reflected off the metallic blade.

“What the hell?!” Luke screamed and tried to swat the knife from the man’s hand. The failed attempt caused the knife to dig deep into Luke’s hand. He stumbled backwards. The older man swayed in the alley. He looked down at the knife covered in blood. Luke took this opportunity to run. He charged towards the next alley, rounding the corner quickly. He smashed into a pair of plastic trash cans and flew over them. He tried to brace himself. As he hit the ground, he could feel the gravel digging into his wound. He cried out from the pain.

He was able to get himself up and ran down the alley to his home. He reached the door and placed his bloody palm on the scanner. The words showed up bright red.

Handprint Rejected...

“What the fuck?!” He cried out. Footsteps could be heard coming down the alleyway. He tried to place his hand on the scanner again.

Handprint Rejected...

He went to reach for the phone in his pocket. He heard the footsteps behind him. The phone slipped from his hand as he spun around to see the man standing in front of him. His eyes widened. He looked down to see the knife was stuck in his abdomen. He fell to his knees, watching the man turn to run away. Something slipped out of his pocket as he raced off. Luke crawled over to pick it up. It was an ID card from HRI.