My Crazy Life. I have a werewolf soulmate...

Chapter 9: The Cost

*Nikki*

Cold. That's how I would desribe this place. Cold and dead. Everywhere we stepped, a loud crunch followed right after. Almost like we were stepping on sticks, not grass. Tonight was supposedly a big night. Not just because there was going to be a big battle, but because it was the anniversary of a famous dancer's death, Karmen T. Her last name was unknown but she was one of the best dancers to ever come here and battle one-on-one with an enemy crew. Her own crew made sure her name was put in three places in The Fields; on the old willow tree, on a stone by the end of The Fields, and the place where she died. No one knows where she really died. No one but her crew, and they will never tell.

The legend of the first crew to ever battle here goes like this; a young, beautiful dancer and her crew were at the bottom of the food chain in the world of dance. They were the scum. Until the great dancer, Karmen decided enough was enough. She pushed and pushed her crew to be at the top, but when they got there, they were challenged to come to The Fields. Since they had won many battles, Karmen thought, why not? And accepted the challenge. The other crew that challenged her crew are unknown too, or are in hiding since their leader died with Karmen as well. Weird, I know. Anyways, both crews came to The Fields and started doing a regular battle, saving the best moves for last. However, halfway through, Karmen and the other leader were pushed to battle each other to find out who the real winner is. Karmen and the other leader fought and danced hard. Seeing as Karmen was a very worthy opponent, the other leader actually started fighting her.

Seeing this, her crew decided to get involved and the other crew fought them to hold them back. Hours later, a dancer from the other crew shouted at everyone to stop and look to where the two leaders were fighting. Both crews ran to find their leader only to find the other crews leader, bloodied and battered. Karmen wasn't anywhere to be found.

A year later, it was assumed by everyone in the town that she was dead and life went on. The Fields have since then been known as the most dangerous place. The only place that could "capture" a worthy dancer. In memory of her, her crew put her initials into the stone where the final battle between the two leaders happened. Where the other leader died and where Karmen disappeared. No one can ever find these initials, however. No one but her crew and the other crew that could never be found.

That's pretty much it. After Karmen, more and more crews tried battling it out here. Not many get far, but some get to the willow where her first initials are. Even to the first stone. But never to the point where the second stone is. As I said, no one can find it.

Anyways, Karmen and her crew was all I could think about as I stepped over the barbed wire, trying to lock my eyes on the willow on the other side of the fence; the one where Karmen's initals were. If I were to find it, I'd probably just stare at it all day. But there's no time for that right now. Right now, I have to face the music, literally.

Our DJ came through the other side of The Fields, holding what looked to be a new set of mixers. From what I could see, he grinned cheekily at us with his gold teeth reflecting with the moon light. There was a huge crowd surrounding the barbed wire outside. Teens from our school, mainly. I could see a few adults too, probably in college or just here to see what the fuss is about.

As the DJ started turning his tables, the other crew came up, wearing dark cloaks. When the base dropped, they all pulled their hoods off at the same time. I almost cried out at what I saw.

As I was approaching the middle of The Fields, my eyes caught a very distraught Trey Edwards, my boyfriend.

Why?! Why do I have to battle him?!

Trey Edwards

Nikki. Nikki Adams. Nikki was the other crew we were battling. My girlfriend, my reason to go to school, the only person that meant so much to me. I had to battle my girlfriend.

I thought back to this morning, hearing the news from my other team mates that we were supposedly battling in The Fields. Nikki had mentioned a battle tonight, but I didn't think she would lay down her life and battle here in The Fields! She was suicidal, that had to be it. Her other crew mates weren't here, either. I wonder if they took off. Seeing as it's three girls up against five guys, I see it as they had probably been to scared. Nikki wouldn't stand a chance.

But if they lose, they pay the ultimate price. If you ever know what it's like to lose everything you have, and I hope you don't, it sucks. Coming into this battle tonight, Nikki, Chandler, and Amber are laying down everything they have and basically asking us to step all over it. Now, I know Nikki and her crew are amazing dancers, but if they are really battling us here, tonight, without their whole team, they are ultimately screwed.

Winning this battle is everything to every dancer out there. Every dancer wishes to win a battle in the place of Karmen T.'s death. It's like winning the world, or so I've heard. The loser, however, loses everything. Just like the crew that battled Karmen and lost their leader, they lose their title, whatever it may be. They must give it up to the other crew. The winning crew gets to pretty much do whatever they please with the other crew's reputation. They can say, 'hey, since you lost to us, we want you to stop dancing and battling.'. The other crew will be shunned by the world of dancers.

I don't like to brag, but I know that if Nikki and her crew were to battle us tonight, they would most likely lose. I love my girlfriend, I really do. And seeing her lose her entire life would kill me. I see the way she talks about her crew. She absolutely loves every crew mate, whether they piss her off sometimes or are being stupid. But if I were to throw this battle, my crew would be shunned. Can't have that, can we?

Nikki definitely knows I'm in a crew, and I probably should have told her I was battling tonight. However, we got this battle notice that minute, or at least I did. I'm not the leader so I have no control over what battles we get or who we are even going up against.

I look up to my so-called leader and sneer at him.

"You knew." I growled at him.

He had a huge smirk plastered on his face. "Actually," his smirk widened. "I had no idea your gal was on the opposing crew. I just knew they were excellent at what they do. Now, since we are heading to the D.O., we can't have anyone in our way."

I know some of you are thinking, what the hell!? But Nikki's crew is our enemy; we both knew this when we were dating. We actually didn't talk to each other much when we found out, but we found each other when we were having a bad day and I guess we just really missed each other.

My crew had actually left town to battle more and find more information on a wolf pack. Yes, we are also part of the supernatural world, but I bet you won't know what we are. That's to come later, anyways, so let's not dwell on that now.

But knowing this fact about me, you can tell--well, anyone can tell that this isn't going to be easy for Nikki and her crew.

I can either throw the battle and get us kicked out of the dancer world, or I can cause immense suffering to the one person that helped me get through hell.

Decisions, Decisions.