Dialogue by Athena VonHeon - 3rd Place Winner of the Halloween Writing Competition 2025

Editor's Note: This submission is a script, so the formatting may look weird due to WIX's posting abilities. Apologies in advance.

She

Do you have a light’n you?

You

No, sorry. I don't smoke.

She

A light! Alight! ‘Tis what summons the buses to their stables fast and steady. You do not need to worry twice.

You

[You shuffle uncomfortably, the wretch looking onwards unmoving.]

… Go bother someone else for what they don't have. I needn’t worry at all.

She

You worry wrong then, when what’s coming is rain.

You

[You don't know what to say anymore, when ignoring is a little matter. You stop to think.]

Rain? But it’s clear skies, anyone can see.

She

See the sun and skies but anywhere here! H-ah, the lights of clear sky evade you fool. 

[She looks up and behind you, your eyes don’t follow.]

Nay – the rains cometh, and you’re out a light. 

You

– Exactly, I don’t have a match, a lighter, a candle – anything! – so begone!

She

[She turns back to you, and spits.]

You have more to you, to what you bring there? Importance?

You

My work — papers, not lighters.

She

[Sung, if only slightly.]

I think it more, when no light will do, it finds a way to light you.

… I hear that accent, foreign and ingrained. How now stranger to this place.

You

I’m here for work, but I hail only from Arkham, there’s no difference there.

She

[Now sets her distrustful gaze, an active scowl.]

No difference indeed! but that your confidence betrays it. Arkham is no place of children, no living hail it home.

[You know she’s right, you shuffle in place.]

She

[After a beat.]

Which way? The number you take?

You

[You’ve given up that small hope she would leave.]

… Any bus through Thayer, I think. Listen, why do you say rain? 

She

[chuckling]

Rains? Yes… it seldom thunders here though.  

You

Haahh, do you know when the bus will come?

She

If you had a light, it’d be here by now. 

You

Leave off it, I don’t have one.

She 

You do, you do! Let’em see this light!

[She lunges for your bag, the papers especially.]

You

[You pry it away. The papers are undamaged.]

The hell! Get fucking lost with that shit!

She

[She saw, her face turns dark, her teeth bare.]

Kid, no light makes you so doomed to this. 

Arkham indeed.

[She spits again, at your feet.]

You

I’ve enough of this, piss off, old lady! Get some help. 

She

[She starts to laugh, cruelly. Then lights a cigarette.]

I’ll not need yours, you unwelcome body. Get outta here lest it turns your grave.

You

… you had – nevermind, just go already!

[Her bus pulls up at another stop. She hobbles to it like a feral thing.]