What happens when a man with nothing left… builds something unstoppable?
Simon Hale was tired of being invisible.
So he created a way to disappear for real — and with it, a new identity.
But when silence becomes power, who decides what’s right?
Chapter 1: The Man the System Forgot
Simon Hale stood in front of the principal’s office. His hands were cold, even though the sun outside was burning hot. He had taught chemistry for almost twenty years. But today, he was not here to teach. He was here to be replaced.
The door opened. A young man in a suit stepped out.
“Mr. Hale, please come in,” he said politely.
Inside the office, the principal didn’t look Simon in the eyes.
“Simon, the school board has decided to continue with the new AI-teaching system. It’s faster, more efficient… and well, cheaper,” he said.
Simon didn’t reply. He just stared at the books on the shelf behind the principal’s desk. One of them was a chemistry textbook — his textbook. He had written it 12 years ago.
“You’re a great teacher,” the principal continued, “but we’re moving in a different direction.”
Simon simply nodded. Then he left.
Outside, the sun felt hotter than before. He got into his old car and drove home. The air conditioner was broken. His shirt stuck to his back with sweat.
At home, his wife Elena was watching children in the living room. She ran a small daycare to help with the bills. When Simon walked in, she smiled.
“You’re home early,” she said. “Everything okay?”
Simon paused. He didn’t want to lie. But he also didn’t want to tell her the truth yet.
“Yeah,” he said. “Just a short day.”
Elena nodded. One of the kids cried in the background. Simon went to the kitchen and poured a glass of water. His hand shook slightly.
That night, after dinner, Simon sat alone in the garage. It smelled like oil and dust. On one shelf were all his old files — notes, experiments, chemical equations from years ago.
He picked up a dusty folder: "Reactive Compounds – Level X."
Most people thought these compounds were too unstable. Too dangerous. Too useless. But Simon knew how to control them. He had tested them in college, and again in secret during his free time. They weren’t for medicine or industry.
They were for power.
He opened his laptop and typed:
"Synthesis of chemical fog that disrupts surveillance cameras. Formula: HX-3."
He wasn’t sure why he typed it. Maybe it was just to feel useful again. Maybe it was more.
He stared at the screen. The blue light reflected in his glasses. A small smile grew on his face.
From behind, Elena’s voice broke the silence.
“Simon? You’re still out here?”
He quickly closed the file.
“Yeah. Just… cleaning up,” he said.
She didn’t ask more. She never did.
After she went to bed, Simon reopened the file. He added a title at the top:
“Project Catalyst.”
Then he wrote one sentence underneath:
“They replaced me with code. Let’s see how well they handle chaos.”
By Team Inspire (Click to visit)
Published by Novel Mint
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