Chapter Two (Lowkey, I wish I used this version in the original story!)

As Dusk walked through the rainy night, her umbrella clutched in her hand, the glow of a nearby television screen caught her eye. She walked closer to the shop's window and watched as a picture flashed onscreen, her jaw dropping as she read the headline. Sir Reginald Hargreeves is Dead. "Dad," She barely whispered. Dusk never got along with her adopted father, but the fact he had passed on shocked her. Usually, it was the bad seeds that lived forever, but obviously, it was not the case this time.

The shock continued to course through her as she walked the last two blocks back to the apartment she shared with her fiancé. She fumbled with the ring of multiple keys until she finally found the right one and stepped into the apartment. "Seb, are you here?" she called out, setting her bags and the soaking umbrella on the floor. Silence. Dusk called out his name again, and as she walked closer to their bedroom, the only thing she could hear was faint snoring.

Okay, he's never gone to bed this early. Is he sick? She wondered. Gently turning the knob, she peeked into the darkened room to see that he was asleep. But just from the small amount of hallway light peering into the room, she noticed a strange hand resting on his bare chest. What the... Immediately, she swung the door open, the bang from it hitting the wall startled Sebastian and his lover. They both sat up in the bed, the woman frantically covering her top with the bedsheets while Dusk stood still in absolute horror.

"What the hell is this?!" She screeched, turning the lights on. The young woman didn't plan on sticking around, so she quickly changed back into her clothes and brushed past Dusk. "So this is stuck doing work?! You have to go and fuck another girl while I'm onstage?!" Her hands clenched into fists as she gripped the doorframe, wanting to rip it from its hinges. "Dusky, you don't understand! She's just a friend!" Sebastian insisted. "Just a friend? So, I'm guessing you screw all your other girlfriends? Just because I wanted to wait, doesn't give you a free smash!"

It didn't matter if the neighbors woke up and were now calling the cops. Dusk had enough anger in her system to fly her to China and back. This was the first time in a long time she held so much resentment for one person. The last was their father after all the abuse he put her and the rest of the Umbrellas through. "Well, if you weren't so busy all the time, maybe I wouldn't have done this!" Sebastian shouted. "Don't blame me! I never forced you to cheat on me!" Dusk could feel the corners of her eyes ignite with fury.

Just looking at the cheater before her made her bones burst into flames. She stormed towards the nearby closet and pulled out a large duffel bag, some of Sebastian's clothes already stuffed inside. "Pack the rest of your shit and get out! And leave your key on the counter, you cheating bastard!" Dusk folded her arms in front of her chest, watching as he hurriedly grabbed everything of his, zipped up the bag, and left, tossing her his copy of the apartment key.

Tears of anger and betrayal slipped down her face as she paced back and forth in the living room, trying to pull herself together. But the image of Sebastian and whoever that woman was kept replaying in her mind like a broken record. She couldn't sleep there that night, not when she felt like a complete stranger. But since she didn't have many friends, she didn't know who to turn to. The closest person who could console her was Viktor (Yes, even though this is Season 1, I'm still referring to him as Viktor.) and he lived thirty minutes across the city.

Dusk packed a few clothes along with a black dress for Reginald's funeral, and in the still pouring rain, she walked to the bus stop. Shit... I'm five dollars short. she internally sighed. Having left some of her cash back home, she had no choice but to find some way to get that extra five bucks. A glimmer caught her eye, and she looked down at the engagement ring still on her finger. Sebastian hadn't asked for it back. A tiny idea popped into her head, and she grabbed her things and ran to one of the nearby pawn shops open 24 hours.

With a shaking hand, Dusk placed the ring on the counter and watched as one of the employees examined it with a small magnifying glass. Please tell me it's worth a lot. "Flawless cut 14 karats. It's a shame your significant other was a total ass," the employee tsked. "Yeah, he was a jerk," Dusk nodded. Placing the ring in one of the glass cases, he reached into the register and pulled out about 3,000 dollars, enough to cover this month's rent and pay for her bus ride.

The bus ride was mostly empty, save for the other few late-night musicians returning from orchestra and band practice. Maybe she'd find Viktor there, but she didn't. When the bus stopped on Viktor's street, Dusk grabbed her bags and walked inside the rickety and paint-peeling apartment building. She knocked on his apartment door and was met with her tired and disheveled brother. "Dusk? Is that you?" He questioned, wiping his eyes.

"Yeah. I'm sorry, I should have called beforehand. But things happened," the phoenix nodded. Viktor's ears perked up at that, and as he invited her inside, he asked what happened. "It's a long story. Do you have any coffee?" Dusk questioned. "Yeah, I'll put on a pot," Dusk looked around his apartment. And she had to admit, it was a little bigger than hers, and despite not having much, she was impressed how he managed to build a small life for himself.

The violin he played since childhood sat in its case pushed up against the wall, and a few photos of their siblings from back when they were teenagers held by magnets rested on the fridge. "Where's your ring?" Viktor pointed to his sister's ring finger, having heard the news of her engagement a few months ago. "Well... Sebastian cheated on me, so I sold it," She answered. Viktor's eyes widened. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. How did you..." He trailed off, pausing as he didn't want to pry into the situation too much.

"It's fine. I came home from a late-night show, and I found him in bed with some girl he considers "just a friend," Dusk sighed. "I had a feeling something was off with him, but I didn't think it was this," Viktor scooted closer to her, touching her shoulder. "He doesn't deserve you. And one day, he'll regret what he did when he finds you with someone who genuinely loves you," he comforted. A tiny smile crept back onto Dusk's face at his words, but having to move on after what should've been her and Sebastian's future as husband and wife would be no more, she had a hard time moving past that.

The coffee machine finished brewing the two piping hot cups of black brew, and Viktor walked back to the kitchen to grab them. "Any cream or sugar in yours?" he questioned. "No thanks, just a cup of pure black," Dusk shook her head. Viktor returned to the couch and handed her the cup, telling her to let it simmer so she wouldn't burn her tongue. "So, did you hear the news about Dad?" the raven questioned.

"That the old man's passed on? Yeah, I knew it would happen eventually, but it's still a shock, you know?" Viktor nodded. "I get it. Even though you know someone's time is coming to an end, nothing can prepare you for what might be their final moments," Dusk leaned back in her seat, head resting on top of the couch cushions as she stared up at the ceiling. "You don't mind if I stay the night, do you?" Dusk asked. "Yeah, that's fine. And we can head back to the Academy in the morning," Viktor answered. He stood up to put his now empty coffee cup in the sink and headed back to his bedroom.

"Hey, V?" Dusk called out again, making him turn around. "Thank you," She smiled. "It's no problem at all. I'll see you in the morning," He replied before closing his bedroom door. Viktor's right, I deserve someone better than that cheater. I guess being single isn't so bad after all. Dusk thought as she buried herself into the nearby blanket, feeling her eyes slowly cave into much-needed slumber.