Daniel dire teenage vampire hunter extraordinaire

### Chapter 16: The Hunt for Jessica

The sunlight streamed through Danny's bedroom window, casting a warm glow across the room. He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the events of the past few days in his mind. Jessica's betrayal, their intense battle, and her retreat into the shadows had left him reeling. He couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment and confusion.

His phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling him out of his thoughts. He grabbed it, seeing a message from Benny: *"Meet me at the usual spot. We need to talk."*

Danny sighed and got up, quickly dressing and heading out the door. He made his way to the secluded spot in the woods where he and Benny often met to discuss their vampire-hunting plans.

Benny was already there, pacing back and forth. When he saw Danny approaching, he stopped and crossed his arms. "We need to find Jessica, Danny."

Danny nodded. "I know. But where do we even start? She could be anywhere."

Benny adjusted his glasses, his expression determined. "I've been doing some research. There are a few places in town where vampires might hide out during the day. We should check them out."

Danny's heart raced at the thought of finding Jessica. Despite everything, he still wanted to talk to her, to understand why she had betrayed him. "Let's do it."

---

The first place they checked was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. Danny and Benny approached cautiously, their senses on high alert. They searched every corner, but there was no sign of Jessica.

"Maybe she moved on," Benny suggested, though he didn't sound convinced.

Next, they went to an old church that had been closed for years. Danny felt a chill run down his spine as they entered the dark, musty building. They explored the nave and the crypt below, but again, they found nothing.

Danny clenched his fists in frustration. "She's not here either."

Benny put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find her, Danny. We just need to keep looking."

---

Their final stop was an abandoned mansion on the edge of town. The place was eerily quiet, the air thick with dust and decay. Danny and Benny split up, searching the various rooms and hallways.

Danny entered what must have once been a grand ballroom, now empty and covered in cobwebs. He felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he had been here before. He called out, his voice echoing in the vast space. "Jessica! If you're here, I just want to talk!"

There was no response. Danny's shoulders slumped, and he turned to leave. As he did, a shadow moved in the corner of his eye. He spun around, but there was nothing there.

"Maybe I'm just seeing things," he muttered to himself, feeling a pang of disappointment.

He met up with Benny in the foyer. "No luck," Benny said, looking just as disheartened as Danny felt.

Danny nodded, his mind racing. "We'll keep looking. We have to."

---

Back at Danny's house, the trio sat in his room, trying to come up with their next move. Vorthos, who had joined them after school, was pacing, his expression thoughtful.

"We need to be smart about this," Vorthos said. "Jessica is dangerous, and we can't afford to be reckless."

Danny sighed. "I know. I just... I just wanted to talk to her. To understand why she did this."

Benny looked at him sympathetically. "We'll find her, Danny. And when we do, we'll get the answers we need."

Vorthos suddenly stopped pacing, a look of realization on his face. "Wait a minute. Jessica mentioned something during your fight, didn't she? Something about meeting someone?"

Danny frowned, trying to remember. "Yeah, she said something about reporting back to someone. But she didn't say who."

Vorthos nodded. "That might be our lead. If we can figure out who she's reporting to, we might be able to find her."

Danny felt a glimmer of hope. "Then let's get to work. We need to find Jessica and put an end to this."

As the sun set outside, Danny, Benny, and Vorthos began to form their plan. They were determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.