The Lost Boys found boy

Part 2

Humans talk about the weirdest things.

I was sitting in my sociology class, trying to listen to the professor's lecture, when the students who sat around me began talking amongst themselves. If I were a mere mortal, I probably couldn't hear much because they spoke in hushed tones, but since I was a vampire, I heard everything they were saying... much to my dismay.

"Like, barf me out, I would never let him do THAT again on me."

"Not even! He's so gross in the first place."

"Party at the Phi Alpha Delta house this weekend, you coming?"

"I don't think I should've eaten that fourth burrito, man..."

I decided to once again focus on the professor. I had attempted to friend some of these students in the past, but their oddball speech, bizarre mannerisms, and pension for getting drunk every week annoyed me. This generation of youth was lazy compared to mine. There was no sense of survival coming from any of them. They would have been devoured by the harsh reality of society back in my day. But just when I assumed I would be safe from the gossip, I heard a more interesting, more relevant topic pop up, this time from a few of the students sitting directly behind me.

"Since you're new here, I'll give you this rundown: there are two gangs on the boardwalk to watch out for. One's called the Surf Nazis. They're a bunch of gutter punk trash running around causing problems. They're the largest group by far. Then you've got their rivals, The Lost Boys. They've only got like, four guys, but I've heard they're super dangerous and you don't wanna mess with them, but they're major troublemakers, too. They ride these radical custom cycles..."

David, Marko, Paul, and Dwayne. I knew the Lost Boys, because I was one of them, too. Nobody would believe me, but it's true. Max didn't even believe me. He only pretended to believe me because he felt sorry for me. I didn't want his pity, because I'd rather be allowed to see my friends again.

A girl spoke up and she sounded so happy to talk about the Lost Boys. "The biker guys are like, awesome and hot. They wear clothes straight out of those MTV music videos."

I couldn't understand why people listened to that loud rock music. It was painful on the ears and worse, so many of the men looked horrid wearing women's makeup... yet plenty of females were attracted to that sort. How odd. I tried to remember what music we listened to back in 1906, but then I recalled we were often too busy getting into fights and trying to steal money to worry about musical taste.

"Those bikers always at the boardwalk?"

"Yeah, they only come out at night."

"Why? Are they vampires or something?"

"Give me a break. There's more stuff to worry about than vampires in this town..."

"Ahhh, who cares? That shit only happens out there. We're all safe on campus."

I smiled inward. I took great pride with my stalking and hunting. My preference was for the wanderers who stumbled into Santa Carla University. Our campus was an open one, so anybody could come in and out, but only students were recognized as residents. Not that it stopped the homeless from coming in and squirreling themselves into hiding, where they could sleep without being spotted by on-site security. I was warned by Max not to go after students, because it would draw too much attention if one too many students were to be spirited away, never to be seen again. Vagabonds wouldn't be missed, and I was always successful with disposing of the remains.

That was one of the most important lessons Max taught me: hiding the evidence. If vampires were to remain in one place for a long time, such as myself, the kills must be either hidden away for good, or they were to be destroyed to the point where the local authorities would not be able to identify them.

I always thought about how fun it would be to hunt with the guys... but then I would get angry, because I couldn't see them. I wondered if I got to hang out with my friends again, maybe I could appreciate the noise that they referred to as music. I could get a motorcycle of my own, too.

After mulling over my wishes, I decided that I didn't care what Max told me. I wanted to see my friends again no matter what.

I turned around in my seat to address the students who were talking behind me.

"I know them," I told them, keeping my voice low. "Those Lost Boys? They're buddies of mine."

One of the boys raised their brow at me, and I could tell he didn't believe me. The girl who spoke so highly of the Lost Boys, leaned toward me and said, "Really? Like, no fooling? Can I meet them?"

"Sure," I said with complete confidence. After all, I only needed one of these humans as an excuse to go to the boardwalk.

"I don't know," another boy questioned, and I could see he was ready to argue with me, and that was when I was forced to use my ability to manipulate his mind and the ones who doubted me. Max warned me not to use my powers too much this way, because it gave me terrible headaches. The power to alter memories of a human was a delicate ability, but I was good at it. Very good, according to Max. I was able to do this with multiple people within my vicinity, and that was exactly what I did. I spared the girl, because she was the one I would be using later on. I watched my victims' pupils dilate as my powers wove into their minds and "fixed" their memories to my liking. I simply made it so that the last few seconds of our conversation, where my knowledge of the Lost Boys, was never questioned. It was as if I never even made my offer to them.

I felt the twinge of pain throbbing in my temple and I had to turn myself back around to face the front. Despite the ache in my head, I listened as the males behind me were quiet for a spell, and then went back to talking about other nonsense, not once bringing up the Lost Boys. Someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind. Before I could address them face to face, a folded up piece of paper was passed against my cheek. I took it, carefully unfolded it, and saw that written in neon pink ink was the girl's name and where to meet her along with a time frame.

She wanted to see the Lost Boys tonight.

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect time to go and see my friends.

+++

I'm so excited that my hands are shaking as I write this. I have about half an hour before I'm to meet my partner-in-crime. Her name is Mallory, by the way.

Fate must have brought me and the Lost Boys together all those years ago, and I believe it will be fate that will help us reunite.

I can't wait to see the look on David's face when I greet him