Chapter 5

Laura and Nikolas had no idea where to look next. Laura was so intent on solving the riddle that Nikolas had to force her to eat. This was the hardest one yet. By that evening Laura and Nikolas were still working on Helena's clue.

"There's no such thing as a square car," Nikolas said. "I think my Grandmother has gone crazy."

Laura wasn't listening. She was drawing on a sheet of paper. She drew a square and put it on wheels.

"That's it!" she yelled.

Nikolas jumped as the suddeness of her outburst. "What's it? Did you figure it out?"

"Its a boxcar! The square is a box. The twin rows of steel are the tracks. The next clue is in the old boxcar that sets next to the tracks."

"Ok, you be careful out there. I'm worried about you Mom."

"Well don't worry about me and you're coming with me. Everyone else has disappeared, I'm not letting YOU out of my sight. Let's go!"

Laura drove them as far as she could and they walked the rest of the way to the boxcar. There on the door was the yellow paper. Nikolas pulled it down and read it to Laura.


You've come so far, so here's your next clue,
Solve this one quickly and the winner will be you.
Look for the giant whose one red eye,
Winks at the world from high in the sky.



Laura sighed. She hoped that she was done with Helena's little game. It was getting darker by the minute and Laura was beginning to get a little spooked.

"Let's get out of here Nikolas," she said.

There was no answer. She looked all around the clearing and inside the boxcar. Nikolas was nowhere in sight.

"Nikolas!" She yelled hoping he had wandered into the woods. That's when she saw it. An envelope stuck to a tree. She pulled it down and saw her name on it. She tore it open and pulled out the paper.


That was fast, but not fast enough,
You're all alone now so you'll have to be tough.
We took the last one from right under your nose,
To get them back, you need to be quick and stay on your toes.



Laura was not afraid anymore. She was angry. She walked back to her car determined to solve this clue quickly. There was no one else for Helena to take so what would happen if she was slow this time. Would Helena kill them?

"Not if I can help it," she said with determination.