The Strangers

Frightened by the sheer size and grotesque décor of the auditorium, Finn reassures himself with the belief that “the big kids have a plan” (299). As the trial begins, a uniformed man steps out and announces that Kate Greystone has confessed. She takes the microphone and, as prompted, confesses to a series of murders, including her husband’s. Watching Emma and Chess hang their heads, Finn realizes they don’t have a plan after all. With nothing left to lose, Finn screams out that Kate is innocent and that her confession was coerced. Without warning, he is grabbed from behind.

As Emma searches the crowd for Finn, a woman whispers furtively in her ear: “If you run, you look guilty. Move with the crowd. Blend in. It’s the only way to hide” (306). She then reveals Finn hidden behind her coat, and Emma desperately tries to keep him quiet. The authorities call a five-minute recess while they search for Finn, and Emma questions the authenticity of her mother’s “confession.” As the guards force their way through the terrified crowd, the foul odor intensifies, feeding Emma’s fear. When the guards begin to interrogate the crowd, the woman hiding Finn prompts Emma to look down and hide her face.