*Disclaimer - The characters in this story belong to Orson Scott Card who authored the book "The Lost Boys" and Joel Schumacher who directed "The Lost Boys" Movie. I only own the storyline to The Street Rat and the original characters. *

Chapter 3

Two years have gone by since that first encounter with the Lost Boys gang. Maya had grown smarter in learning how to survive in this unfriendly environment.

This was the true dark side to Santa Carla that tourist did not see. One minute someone is here and the next they disappeared. Drugs and alcohol flowed freely on the streets right in front of the cops who were supposed to monitor the boardwalk. Santa Carla was a playground for those who wanted to live outside the law of modern society.

As a beautiful 16-year-old, Maya knew the dangers of this world. Santa Carla was a world outside of the world. She had lived and now thrived in this city where the rule was stay with a group but know that in reality it is every man or woman for themselves. Don't become too attached to anyone because they might disappear forever the second you take your eyes off them.

Maya had found her own group of street rats who lived and worked together to survive. They trusted each other enough to not steal from each other but not enough to divulge their past or future plans. They were survivors fighting every day for just one more day. Maya was a survivor and she would do whatever was necessary to make it to the next day.

9:45pm

One thing that was amazing about Santa Carla was all the bonfires that lined the beach. When you looked out onto the beach, it was like dozens of fireflies all over with people crowding around them. With the fog rolling in from the sea, it looked so mystifying. A secret world that you just had to explore.

One bonfire in particular held Maya and her group.

The street rats cooked food stolen or bought with stolen money from tourist around a bonfire close to the boardwalk. The group shared the spoils from that day as well as funny stories they witnessed from tourist or local. As a group they were safe from those who would love to hurt them but separating meant the possibility of something happening to them.

As Maya and another girl passed out the food to the other kids one of the youngest members leaned forward: "Do you ever miss home? I do. Sometimes I wish I could go home to my mama. She married a man, James, and mama was pregnant with twin boys. I ran before they were born."

One of the boys snorted. "Nah. Only thing good about home was if my pop got lucky at cards and won a lot of cash. Those were the good day's because I would get a decent meal. Bad days I was lucky to have the skin on my back. I take Santa Carla and the death that comes with it than going home. They obviously didn't want you or you wouldn't be here with us."

Another boy nodded his head. "Best not to think about home kid."

Maya frowned at the two boys.

"Do not tell her that Kyle. That is just mean." The girl turned to the young girl. "Susan I am sure your mama missis you. I am sure she is worried sick about you."

Susan frowned. "You really think Maya? I mean she has a new family now. Why would she want me?" A tear ran down Susan's face.

Maya wrapped an arm around Susan's shoulders. "Yes, I bet she does. How about we call her? We will not tell her where you are at but at least she will know you are safe."

Susan nodded her head and smiled at Maya.

Maya turned her attention toward the boardwalk. The people passed by not glancing at the street rats by the fire or the ones running through the crowd. Nothing attracted her attention until she saw them.

The four men who constantly got into trouble with everyone on the boardwalk, but no one was willing to go against them. Those who did were fools.

Maya knew them all by name and their personalities. She remembered them saving her when she was fourteen from being raped. The first time she had ever met the Lost Boys.

That was not the first time she had encountered The Lost Boys. In the two years Maya had made sure to stay on their good side.

*Flashback*

Maya was walking down the boardwalk when she spotted the Surf Nazis. She quickly dived behind a balloon game praying they didn't see her.

Maya took a deep breath and glanced around the booth to see where they were at. Her eyes widened when she realized what they were doing.

They were standing by the Lost boys' bikes shaking cans of spray paint. The leader was pointing at the gas tank and motioning to the sand. Maya had a hard choice. Walk away and pretend she did not see anything or alert the Lost boys before too much damage has been done.

Maya turned and ran down the boardwalk looking for the lost boys. She found them just climbing off the carousel. Maya quickly walked in their direction and deliberately bumped into Marko. As she pushed past them she whispered out.

"Get to your bikes. Quick. The surf Nazies are there."

She disappeared into the crowd hoping Marko heard her and understood.

Apparently, he had. Back at base camp for Maya's group the discussion was about the fight between the Lost Boys and the Surf Nazis had been vicious.

*End Flashback

Maya remembered being so afraid that the Surf Nazis would realize she was the one who told the Lost Boys but they had disappeared and were never seen again. The next time Maya saw them Marko slipped her some money into her hands. Maya was shocked at having $200 dollars.

Maya had enough fear to keep a distance away from the lost boys but not enough to fear observing them from a distance. There was something different about that group that set them apart from each other.

Kyle frowned as he watched Maya watch the Lost Boys. He hated those boys. They acted so smug like they knew the secrets of the universe and everyone else was stupid. They were so exclusive on who they allowed around them. He had tried to join when he was younger but they laughed in his face and humiliated him. They got many women throwing themselves on them even with the fear of the unknown around them. He was sure they were responsible for the deaths of so many people but there was no evidence of that. Women flocked to them and the ones who don't will stare at them in wonder.

Kyle glanced at the boardwalk and saw a group of Surf Nazis getting on a ride. A member of the Surf Nazis gang had approach him about joining them. Apparently, so many Surf Nazis had disappeared that the gang was recruiting from the street rats for new members.

He turned his attention to the group. "If you could join any group on the boardwalk, who would it be? I would join the Surf Nazis. Scores of women at their feet. All the drugs I could ask for. What more could you ask for?"

Kyle watched as each kid in the group told what they would do and why. He sneered at Susan when she shrugged her shoulders at his question.

Kyle's eyes moved to Maya. "What about you Maya? Would you join the surf Nazis with me? We could look out for each other and take care of one another." Kyle thought she was beautiful but she refused to have any romantic actions with him.

Maya turned her eyes away from the Lost Boys to focus on Kyle.

"I would jump off the cliffs by the light house before I would ever join the Surf Nazis. They abuse their women. If I had to join a group on this boardwalk, I would join The Lost Boys"

Everyone gasped at that statement. None could believe she said that.

Mathew turned from where he was sitting to face Maya. "Why would you choose them? Their crazy."

Maya frowned and rolled her eyes. "Have any of you ever watched them? Like really watched them?"

Maya glanced around looking at each kid. "The girl and kid they have with them. Do they look underfed or look like one of the men hit them? They may be dangerous to those not part of the group but to each other they are like family. They joke with each other and even the kid. If I had to join any group, I would pick the one that at least looks out for their members."

Susan grabbed onto Maya's arm and tugged on it. "Their watching you. Could they have heard you from here?"

Maya looked up at the boardwalk. All four had turned around and looking right at her. She looked the bleached blond leader in the eyes and raised an eyebrow. He smirked at her and leaned on the wood just watching. Maya was about to call out that staring was rude till one of the kids pointed behind Kyle.

"Surf Nazis heading this way."

Maya and the others glanced in the direction the kid pointed before grabbing their stuff to flee. Maya grabbed Susan's hand pulling her to the boardwalk. They could disappear in the crowd.

As Maya and Susan ran up the steps onto the boardwalk she glanced to the side as they passed The Lost Boys. They had turned and was following the girls with their eyes. Each smirked as if they had heard every word Maya had said.

She shook her head and focused on running through the crowd. There was no way they could have heard her from where she was on the beach. It is not like they had super hearing or anything like that.

Right now, she needed to focus on herself and Susan. She could figure out the mystery of The Lost Boys another time. It is not as if the secret of The Lost Boys would kill her.