Romancing the Tome

Part 2

It's 5:06 AM when your phone beeps. Normally, you wouldn't hear something this early, but you're right in the sweet spot between REM cycles, so you crack open an eye. The night sky is still dark, city asleep outside the window when you tentatively poke a hand from the warmth of your covers.

Grabbing your phone, you roll onto your back and peer up at the screen. The words are blurry – contacts not in yet – but you manage to read.

From: Min Yoongi

To: Y/L/N Y/N

Subject: Confidential Things

Hey. It's me, Yoongi. Although, if you didn't deduce that from my email address, I'd question whether I really need your help on this case after all.

No, I'm just kidding – I need your help.

Anyways, meet me tonight at 11:00 PM at the crossroad of Interstate 39 and Juniper Knoll. I'll be the guy in the super cool hat.

Cheers, Yoongi

Trying not to yawn, you return your phone to the table. Scrunching yourself under the covers, you try and fall back asleep but find it impossible. Min Yoongi might be the devil, sending you an email at such an ungodly hour. His words repeat in your mind, disturbing any other thought you might dare to have. Interstate 39 and Juniper Knoll – a flicker of memory emerges, recognizing the name.

You've been up that Interstate before – for camping and whatnot – and the name Juniper Knoll rings a bell. Likely, you've passed it, but you can't remember the details. It must be pretty far north, since it's unnumbered and all the lanes near the city are. Worry sinks in your stomach, wondering what Yoongi has gotten you into. So far north, there's nothing but wilderness and wild animals.

Perfect for treasure-hunting, you suppose.

Once it's clear sleep is out of the question, you fling off your comforter aside and step out of bed. Placing your feet on the floor, you fight another yawn. Light stains the easternmost edge of the world, stretching it's way upward with peach-tinged fingers. Watching it is peaceful, more so than thinking about tonight.

Yoongi's questions continue to weigh heavily in your mind – mainly, his nonchalant mention of the Enlightened.

Entering your bathroom, you turn on the faucet and stare at yourself in the mirror. No one truly knows about the Enlightened – not unless they're in it and Min Yoongi doesn't strike you as the type they'd recruit.

The Enlightened are dedicated to exactly what their moniker details. An elite group of knowledge seekers searching to uncover the bones of the world. Many academics belong to it, not just anthropologists, like yourself – but the one thing all have in common is secrecy. It's impossible to interfere with a business you know nothing about. When you left their ranks, you were made an exception, not the general rule.

Pausing mid-brush, your toothbrush hangs from your mouth. Yoongi wasn't in the Enlightened while you were – that much is certain. You would've remembered someone like him.

Resuming your brushing, you ignore the resulting heat. Yoongi is cute, that's all; it's hardly a crime to acknowledge it. Spitting into the sink, you wipe your mouth clean. Now that you're work partners though, it means nothing can happen between you.

Also, Min Yoongi is irritating. He's annoying, strange... and mildly brilliant to boot.

This is something you've determined after copious research last night. You knew of Yoongi's infamy before, but now you know more. Even considering his recent streak of bad luck, Yoongi is still regarded as the best in his field. A remarkable feat, given he's only a ne year older than you are.