The picture Enzo showed me was of a little girl, blonde hair, blue eyes, typical cuteness, holding a large stuffed rabbit.

"Sorry Enzo, I'm no kindergarten cop. Finding kids who have lost their way home ain't my thing. Demons are my business."

Enzo scoffed and looked at me. "But it is your thing, since a) we've been offered a million dollars for Alice's safe return, and 2) this case does, n fact, deal with demons. Take a closer look at that picture Sherlock."

'A million bucks? Sweet deal.' I listen and inspect the photo again. Something was very wrong with that picture, but I didn't notice it until now. That stuffed rabbit was no ordinary bunny rabbit. The little medallion around it's neck was actually a typical demonic symbol. So, this meant that the little bundle of artificially stuffed joy in this girl's arms was a demon.

"Shit Enzo, that can't be right. Why would a demon even bother dealing with a little girl? Last time I checked, little kids didn't have much to offer demons. So did she summon him? A little girl, an innocent little girl for Chris sakes, gave in to the darkness of the world and summoned a demon?"

"But Raziel, she was lost and forlorn. The worst pain in the world is the feeling of loneliness."

Enzo has never been that full of meaning, and never will be. He is a shallow bastard, and I know it. "Fuck you Enzo, you're not that deep. Besides, the worst pain she's going to feel is the pain of that demon devouring her soul and ripping her in two."

Enzo gives me a smack upside the head. "Well quit yer bitchin and find her! Time's a wastin! She lives in that huge mansion right outside the city. It's odd though, her parents want us to find her, but they said that she's somewhere in that house. How can you lose your own child in your own house?" Obviously he is very anxious for me to earn "our" payment. He turns away and hobbles off, probably to the club again.

Raziel drives on over….Vroom vroooom vroooooooom!

As I approach the mansion, only one thought resounds throughout my head:"Don't worry Alice, I promise that I'll save you from the darkness."

I enter the mansion. "Holy hell these people are loaded!!" Beautiful tables covered with fancy priceless vases, figurines, and other very pricey only-three-lift-in-the-world-and-I-own-all-three nicnacs are everywhere. Huge chandeliers hang from ceiling, washing the room in clear crystal light. There's even a huge family portrait on the wall, hanging of course, in a diamond-encrusted frame.

Only problem: No one is here. Not even a fancy butler to say the usual pleasantries he's paid to say to me. Nonetheless, the sudden deficiency of people hasn't deterred me from doing my job. So, I wander around. Aimlessly.

I eventually find my way into a large oval room. Toys are scattered all over the floor. And, there in the eye of this plastic and stuffed animal storm, is Alice. No demon bunny.

"Alice, honey, I've come here to find you since you've been reported missing. But you're right here……and I don't know what to do now exactly…" Eugh. I hate having to be all nice and sunshine and rainbows and shits and giggles to little kids.

She giggles and smiles at me.

"I'm not missing silly! If anything, my parents are. I got mad at them, and wished they would go away. Rabbie made them go away, so now me and Rabbie can play here together forever! And Rabbie says that he's been looking for you, Raziel."

"Who the fu---uh…..who's Rabbie?"

A deep, sinister voice echoes from the darkness. "That would be me." A rabbit, a human sized one, walking on two legs and all, walks into the room, seemingly out of the darkness. He continues. "It has come to my attention that you are no ordinary demon. I, too, have become quite strong, from tending to Alice's deepest darkest wishes. The darkness in her soul screamed for a friend, and there I was. She wanted her parents gone, and I made them "disappear." I'm working on her final wish right now, and after that, her soul will be mine. I have a wager for you. I have used my all of my strength to create the most powerful demon I could muster. Defeat it before time runs out, and the girl is yours, as well as the money, I'll disappear, and everything will go back to normal. You lose, and your soul, and hers, are mine."

I've had enough of this. I charge forward to punch that bucktoothed bastard in his sneering face. "Screw you! You bucktoothed floppy eared bastard!" Before the blow can connect, he vanishes, along with Alice. The room starts to twist and contort.

All of a sudden the playroom has become a dungeon. On the wall is a large grandfather clock, as twisted looking as the room. I hear steps, and a giant Cheshire cat demon is before me. Its hollow yellow eyes are focused on me, as its fangs curl into a smile full of malice. The rabbit's voice echoes throughout the room.

"I'd start if I were you. Times running out."

The only sound now is the clock ticking, the monotonous drone of Alice's soul being wasted away.