C4 Isabella's POV

Isabella's POV

I sneaked out after curfew that evening and made my way to the oak tree behind Old Man Winter's shed. Everyone feared coming up here after his death a couple of years ago.

I wasn't afraid of the dark because the moon was shining brightly and sufficiently illuminating my surroundings. In addition, I was too focused to let anything get in the way. I was unable to get over my despair.

Despite the many encouraging comments I had heard from Mr. Gaius, I was still angry and felt more than just devastated.

Nobody could get it. They all saw it favorably; Felix, my biological father, even went so far as to express his pride in me.

We don't often discuss Jonathan, but today he told me he was happy that one of his offspring didn't disappoint.

I wanted to correct him and let him know that Jonathan was not at all a letdown and that he was happily residing in New York City, but I was aware that if they found out, I would be in serious danger. Punishments are most certainly warranted.

I had resorted to putting on a fake grin and nodding obediently to appear to be the good girl they all thought I was before I would turn around and rebel in unheard-of ways.

I continued to move through the woodland in the direction of the clearing while feeling guilty for lying to them.

The thought of Jonathan simply caused my heart to break again. I've yearned to see my brother once more for years, the one I cherished most greater than I am.

I hadn't seen him in a while. We hadn't spoken in exactly two months, and it had been four months since I had last seen him.

He went so far as to give me a cellular smart gadget when he first introduced me to the outside world's most popular technical developments.

It was only intended to be used at the clearing and as a means of communication with him. He couldn't keep coming up here because he was in New York City, which seemed to be quite far away from us here.

I was initially horrified by the apparatus. Mr. Gaius was the only person in The Outpost who was supposed to have one, but once I started using it, I couldn't stop.

Fortunately, there was a public campground in the clearing. My cellular handset only functioned up here since it was the only one that offered a free internet connection.

The only person who was aware of my secrets was Nora. We'd been up late scrolling through a world that was activated by the touch of a finger on several occasions.

We had even discovered the most magnificent of them all. It identified itself as Google. We had spent hours searching through Google, from still images to movies, and there was still so much more to discover.

There were publications, movies, and illustrations that all showed the world outside The Outpost.

There have been tales, interesting and fascinating stories about masked heroes fighting to defend people from criminal villains who were encroaching on towns and cities.

Stories of girls who attend high school rather than just any school, a location where students received their standing in a social hierarchy. Whereas the people at the top would write terrible things about their classmates while wearing pink on specific days of the week.

I was informed by Jonathan that those were false. How did he know, though? Had he looked everywhere and reached that conclusion? I didn't believe that.

I enter the clearing after passing the dilapidated wooden sign and proceed to the wooden bench. Our private messages and names were etched into our bench.

After jumping out of my bedroom window, I saw that the sun had nearly set, giving the sky a purple tinge. However, it was still too light to use the flashlight built into the tiny little rectangle, so I put my phone in my boot.

I took it out and turn it on before stopping when I heard the sound of rustling leaves. My breathing slows as I slowly tilt my head to look at Nora coming out of the trees.

Nora knew my secrets, as I had pMriously stated. The clearing was now equally as much her secret as it was mine.

I saved you a spot at worship because I missed you. She smiles and takes the bench seat next to me.

I didn't even smile at her. Too many of those have been faked lately. I wasn't in the best of health.

She acknowledges my desire to visit New York City by sending me a little sad grin. Would you like to discuss it? She inquired.

I slapped my forehead. I had been dwelling on it excessively and had finally been able to control my emotions. Speaking would just lead to their return.

She nods and decides to continue. What did Mr. Gaius desire, then? Please don't tell me that he reprimanded his favorite female, she trolls.

I chuckled out loud through my nose before removing the gold foil from my pocket with my hand. "He gave it to me." I let her look at the object by holding it up in my open palm and providing space between us.

What do you think it might be? She asks in a bewildered tone, narrowing her eyes in response.

I said, "Mr. Gaius called it a condom," Nora raises her glasses and keeps focusing closely on the square. Would you think that it smells eerily like the spice packets that are included in the noodle packs sold at the supermarket?

I seriously nodded. Or those sachets of hand sanitizer you get at the diner after your lunch, I add.

She nods, but her gaze briefly shifts to mine. If you don't even know how it appears, how are you supposed to utilize it?

Exactly!

I then explained to her, to another bewildered sigh, that Mr. Gaius had instructed me not to open it and that my assigned would be aware of what to do.

You don't think Google would be aware, do you? Her eyes abruptly broaden in inquiry as she asks. They are geniuses after all.

"Great concept!" I came to a conclusion, berating myself for not considering it earlier.

We both gather close to my devices while I type Condom using the small-finger keyboard.

Nora taps on a video titled "How to Put on a Condom for Beginners" and adds, "That one."

That's strange. As I shutterly stare at the screen. Where does the banana factor in? As I slant the screen so that the footage is shown sideways, I speak aloud.

We both have curious eyes as we watch, and the film only makes us more perplexed and curious. We then spend the remaining hour exploring the world of condoms.

"That's a phallus! She exclaimed. I scream. "That certainly doesn't look appealing at all! I can't help but concur as Nora yells, her face scrunching up in distaste.

According to Google, we had already strayed into the territory of condoms and what we now understood to be sexual activity.

There were numerous condom application demos, as well as visual aids showing the condom in use. Pornography, according to Google

Even though there was an overwhelming quantity of information, we couldn't help but be curious as we went through the different upsetting videos and images.

"She is yelling. Surely, women shouldn't be exposed to this kind of behavior. As the perpetrator subjected the kid to unfathomable treatment, Nora added that she was horrified as she watched the girl scream again.

I give her a sideways look while I tensely gnaw on my nails. "Have you and Joshua ever done anything like that?" I hesitantly inquire about Joshua, Nora's chosen soul mate.