“There is always a lesson of a lifetime to learn in every betrayal.” – Edmond Mbiaka
Today’s short story takes a dark turn as I explore the emotions of betrayal, revenge, and the delicate balance between human emotion and reason. It is based on a writing prompt I got from The Write Practice website. I’m not going to go into writing prompts because by now, you should know how I feel about them (I love them!) and how impactful they are for people who are learning (or relearning) to write.
Anyway, today’s writing prompt is ‘Artificial intelligence took his job after he created the very code that launched the company into eye-popping profitability. And now he’s out for revenge.’
The story that I’ve written centres on a brilliant programmer who, after pouring his life into creating groundbreaking code, finds himself blindsided when the very technology he built renders him obsolete. The company that once thrived on his innovation has replaced him with artificial intelligence—an AI tool powered by his own creation. His heart is pierced by the sharp stinger of betrayal, and as he grapples with the loss of his career and purpose, revenge becomes an enticing path. But, like all stories of vengeance, the consequences are never as straightforward as they seem.
In this story, we will also explore the power of human connection. Our protagonist isn’t entirely alone in his anger—there are people around him who see his struggle and try to steer him away from the darkness that revenge promises. They become the moral compass, the voices of reason that remind him of the bigger picture.
When writing this story, I hoped to highlight the importance of having meaningful relationships with people; whether siblings, friends, parents or romantic partners. I wanted to show that as much as revenge can feel justified at the moment, it’s the relationships and influences around us that often help us make better decisions, especially when the pain of betrayal is overwhelming. As the story unfolds, the lines between right and wrong blur, showing how easy it is to lose oneself in the pursuit of justice or retribution. I hope that by the end of this story, you’re left with the question: is revenge ever worth the price we pay, and who in our lives can help us find clarity when we’re blinded by anger?
Code of Betrayal
The sun was beginning to set over the bustling streets of Yaba, Lagos, casting long shadows over the cramped buildings and crowded markets. The tech hub of Nigeria was alive with energy—young programmers, startups, and entrepreneurs trying to carve their space in the digital world. For Korede, this part of Lagos had once been his sanctuary, the place where he discovered his passion for coding. But now, as he walked past the familiar shops and cafés, the only thing he felt was the weight of betrayal hanging over him like a dark cloud.
Korede had grown up in the heart of Mushin, one of Lagos’ rougher neighborhoods, where opportunity was scarce, and survival was a daily struggle. His father was a mechanic, his mother sold food by the roadside, and Korede had learned early on that the only way out of the poverty cycle was through sheer determination. After school, he’d worked at a local cybercafé to help his parents make ends meet. It was there, surrounded by old computers and the never-ending stream of customers, that he had first stumbled upon coding.
The internet became his teacher. Korede spent hours devouring free online tutorials, teaching himself HTML, JavaScript, and Python during the café’s quiet moments. It wasn’t long before he started experimenting with more advanced coding techniques and, eventually, hacking. At first, it was just for fun—cracking into abandoned websites or playing with harmless security loopholes. But as his skills grew, so did his reputation in the local coding scene.
He had won his first hackathon in Lagos when he was only 19, a local event held in the cramped space of a tech incubator. It had been his breakthrough moment. Among the judges had been executives from ByteNet, one of the fastest-growing tech companies in Nigeria, known for pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. They had been impressed by Korede’s skills, offering him an opportunity that felt like a dream come true: a full-time role as a software engineer in their AI division.
Korede couldn’t believe it—just a few years ago, he had been a kid from Mushin with little hope, and now he was working for a major tech company. His life seemed to be changing overnight.
The Rise
At ByteNet, Korede threw himself into his work. He was tasked with developing AI tools that could revolutionize business operations for Nigerian companies. Day and night, he worked on complex algorithms, building models that could predict customer behaviour, streamline processes, and enhance security. His crowning achievement came after months of coding and sleepless nights: an AI-driven software tool that could automate business strategies based on real-time market data. It was a game-changer.
The tool was more than efficient, it was groundbreaking. ByteNet’s profitability soared. Clients from all over Africa were knocking at their door, and the company’s CEO, Kunle Ajayi, became the darling of the Nigerian tech scene, hailed for the company’s meteoric rise. Korede had thought that his hard work would finally pay off—that he would get the recognition he deserved. But that wasn’t what happened.
The Fall
It had started with whispers. Meetings Korede wasn’t invited to, decisions being made without him. Then, one cold Friday afternoon, Kunle had called him into his office. The air conditioning hummed as Kunle, ever the suave businessman, smiled across the table.
“We appreciate everything you’ve done for ByteNet,” he had said smoothly. “But the company is heading in a new direction. We’ve integrated the AI system fully, and moving forward, we’re looking to streamline our team. Unfortunately, we won’t be needing your services anymore.”
Korede had been stunned. Fired? After everything he had done? He had built the very AI that was now responsible for ByteNet’s success, and now they were letting him go as if he was just another expendable coder.
“I made that tool, Kunle,” Korede had said, his voice shaking with a mix of disbelief and anger.
Kunle’s smile didn’t waver. “And it’s working beautifully. But we don’t need as many engineers anymore, thanks to the automation. I’m sure you’ll understand.”
Understand? How could he understand being discarded by the very company he had helped build? ByteNet had used him, milked him for his talent, and then tossed him aside the moment he wasn’t convenient anymore.
As he packed up his things, Korede realised the bitter irony: the AI he had created had effectively replaced him. The system he had worked so hard to perfect had made him obsolete.
The Revenge
Back in his cramped apartment in Mushin, Korede stared at his laptop, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. ByteNet’s logo glowed mockingly on the screen. Anger surged through him. Anger at Kunle, at the system, at the tech industry that treated people like disposable tools.
But Korede wasn’t just angry, he was determined. He had been the architect of ByteNet’s success, and if they thought they could toss him aside without consequences, they were gravely mistaken.
He began coding again, his fingers flying across the keys with the same intensity he had when he first joined ByteNet. But this time, his code wasn’t meant to build, it was meant to destroy. He knew ByteNet’s system inside out, and with his hacking skills, it wouldn’t be difficult to introduce a subtle, undetectable flaw into their AI.
His plan was simple: introduce a bug into the AI’s core algorithm that would slowly, over time, erode its functionality. The bug would be invisible at first, manifesting only in minor glitches, but over weeks, it would grow, crippling the system from the inside. By the time ByteNet realises what’s happened, it would be too late. Their prized AI would be rendered useless, and their clients would start pulling out, one by one.
As he worked, Korede’s thoughts drifted back to his family—his mother’s tired face, his father’s calloused hands, and the sacrifices they had made for him to have a better life. He wasn’t doing this just for revenge. He was doing this for them. ByteNet had taken away his chance at a better future, but they weren’t going to take his dignity.
Days turned into weeks as Korede refined his code, making sure it was flawless. His bug was like a slow-burning fuse, ready to blow up ByteNet’s entire operation without them ever suspecting him. It was poetic justice.
The Moment of Truth
On the night he planned to execute the final part of his plan, Korede sat in front of his laptop, his heart pounding. He had hacked into ByteNet’s system remotely, his cursor hovering over the command that would launch the bug. He could see the system’s health indicators glowing green, their AI running smoothly, blissfully unaware of the storm that was about to hit.
But then something unexpected happened. His phone buzzed with a message. It was from his younger sister, Rashidat.
“Egbon, you’ve come so far. Don’t let them bring you down. We believe in you.”
He stared at the message, his hand freezing over the mouse. Rashidat was in her final year at the university, studying computer science, inspired by her older brother’s success. She had always looked up to him as the one who showed that it was possible to rise above their circumstances, that hard work and talent could open doors no matter where you came from.
Suddenly, the weight of what he was about to do hit him. Revenge wouldn’t change what had happened. It wouldn’t take away the pain of being discarded, or the injustice of the system. But it would destroy everything he had worked for, everything his family had believed in.
Slowly, Korede withdrew his hand from the mouse and shut his laptop.
ByteNet had taken his job, his dignity, and his trust. But they weren’t going to take his future. He wouldn’t let them turn him into the kind of person who let bitterness and anger rule his life. There were other ways to rebuild, to find his way back. He had beaten the odds once before, and he could do it again.
Korede took a deep breath, closing his eyes. His story wasn’t over. Not yet.
And with that, he stepped into the unknown, ready to fight for the future that lay ahead.
We can see that today’s short story isn’t only about revenge. It reveals threads about the powerful role that the people in our lives play when we’re at a crossroads. When betrayal hits us hard like it did Korede, it’s easy for us to choose a path that’s fueled by hurt and anger. But often, it’s the voices of reason and care around us that remind us to pause, reflect, and make decisions that align with who we truly want to be.
I hope that you let reason in during your darkest times (because we will all experience such moments). I hope that you are able to navigate such times with grace and the support of great people in your life.
Until my next story, be good to you.
P/s: If you have any questions about creating content, writing, or the story above, please leave a comment below or DM me on Instagram!
