npm install not working in laravel 5.6

On a fresh install of laravel 5.6 via composer

How I installed it:

composer create-project laravel/laravel

Once installed I run

npm install

I get back:

'npm notice created a lockfile as package-lock.json. You should commit this file. Up to date in 0.163s.'

It does not create a node_modules folder.

If I try using yarn to install the dependencies like so:

yarn install

I get back: 'yarn install v1.3.2 info No lockfile found. Resolving packages... warning laravel-mix > img-loader > imagemin-mozjpeg > mozjpeg > bin-wrapper > download > gulp-decompress > gulp-util@3.0.8: gulp-util is deprecated - replace it, following the guidlines at https://medium.com/gulpjs/gulp-util-ca3b1f9fac5 | Fetching packages... info fsevents@1.1.3: The platform 'win32' is incompatible with this module. info "fsevents@1.1.3" is an optional dependency and failed compatability check. Excluding it from installation. Linking dependencies.... Building fresh packages... success Saved lockfile. Done in 35.38s

This creates a node_modules folder with only ".yarn-integrity' no modules.

The link to the medium page doesn't work, receive 404 so no luck there.

My node version is: "v8.9.4" and my yarn version is: 'v1.3.2'

via Chebli Mohamed