We’re in the middle of a dimly lit BDSM dungeon, three St. Andrew’s crosses on the wall have scantily clad women on them, butts out, as they are each in turn flogged by a masked man.

It is much quieter than you’d expect, just Thwack - yalp - thwack - yelp.

AARON (Late 20’s, trimmed facial hair, fashionable button up, one too many accessories) makes his way down a corridor between rooms that are designed to look like different locations, a jail, a teacher’s room, etc. He gawks at each one, and the various kinky people inside.

He hesitantly pauses to look into one room, made to look like a majestic medieval throne room. Inside is a disaffected woman seated on the throne. She’s being covered in WAX by a man in a heavy duty apron and gas mask. Aaron is spellbound.

The woman, EMMA (30’s, gorgeous, short hair, a small burn scar on her cheek) spots him staring at the doorway, smirks, and stretches out like a cat.

Aaron can’t stop staring... He is utterly transfixed by her.

There’s a BUBBLING, HISSING, SPITTING sound, like a screaming steam vent. It’s getting louder and louder...

A barista is steaming milk at a hip looking coffee shop somewhere in West Hollywood.

Aaron (in a black HEALTH band shirt) sits at a table sipping a latte and swiping through a dating app on his phone. Swiping LEFT with bored vigor.

- a short cutie - nope - a sporty curvy girl - nope - a smartly dressed dark skinned woman - nope

Until he finds one he pauses on. It’s Emma, the woman with the burn scar on half of her face...

It’s her...

He swipes YES on this one. The phone shows the word MATCH in bright red letters that burn and fizzle. Aaron looks shocked.

Aaron stands at his kitchen sink, washing the dishes as his friend MATT (Early 30’s balding) leans against a counter sipping a Ginger Beer. They talk to each while each engrossed in their own activity.

It was crazy man, crazy! Like, a bunch of girls tied up and whipped. Literally whipped. Wild WILD shit man.

Matt nods his head knowingly, sips his drink.

I told you it’d be your sort of thing man. Glad you had a good time. Did you do a scene or anything?

A What?

A Scene, ya know... Like a session. Playing around. Doin’ kink.

Matt gestures.

Eh, no luck. Everyone was already kinda paired up and I didn’t know how to ask.

Yea, I shoulda thought of that. You should go to one of the newbie nights, they’ll teach you everything.

Yea well I was on IgnitR today and I’m pretty sure I matched with someone I saw at the dungeon doing candle stuff--

--Wax Play

Whatever. That’s crazy though right? Should I act like I didn’t recognize her? I mean I guess I’ll see how it--

Aaron sits across from Emma, in street clothes. He’s got a foamy latte in an oversized mug, she’s hitting her vape indoors.

Saw you at the club the other day.

(nervous)

Oh really, I didn’t recognize you. Which club?

She reaches over and condescendingly puts her hand on his.

Baby, you don’t have to lie to me. The dungeon.

Aaron is flustered. He pulls back and busies his hands with his coffee mug.

Oh that club.

Emma rolls her eyes.

How long you been in the lifestyle?

Oh a while-- Did some-- wax play myself before.

Emma takes a pull off the vape and winks at Aaron.

Oh so you did recognize me?

Uhh. Yea.

It’s okay dummy. Don’t hide from me. I’m just a baby.

She makes a little puppy dog face at him, then leans over and kisses him. He’s floored.

Wow.

You’re fun.

Aaron furtively takes a sip of his latte and Emma pulls off her vape. She blows smoke at him and makes a little face.

Aaron and Emma are having sweaty, carnal sex. She’s restrained to his bed spread eagle, he’s on top of her.

That’s it, nice and slow.

Oh Fuck.

Emma, half in the moment, is almost staring through Aaron.

Tell me. When you saw me at the club, covered in wax. What did you think?

Uhhh. Why?

Emma rolls her eyes.

Dude I am literally the most vulnerable I can be. You’re literally inside of me. Spill already.

I thought it was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

I know. What else?

It felt like you were staring right through me.

That’s because I see through you.

Oh yea?

Thrust. She likes this game.

Yea, you’re trying to run away from something, let me guess... Your ex? Trying to get over her.

Aaron stops mid-thrust.

Jesus.

Emma giggles.

Let me hit the vape.

She gestures over to her vape on the side table, Aaron puts it in her mouth and lets her hit it.

Yea, you touristy types are all the same, all big eyes and swagger. Fake Doms.

What do you mean fake doms?

Dominant is a title you earn. You aren’t a Dom. You’re just a top trolling for a bottom. You don’t even know how to read your partner yet.

I--

--Here, let me show you something, put your finger inside me like you’re Captain Hook okay?

Aaron looks shocked.

There’s the sound again. SCREAMING Steam growing LOUDER and LOUDER.

Aaron clatters away on his keyboard and mouse, trying to redesign a logo for a brand of hot chicken over and over.

He squirms in his chair and looks down at his phone. He’s messaged Emma on the dating site. It says “Thanks for a wonderful time last night”

He sips his coffee. Stares at the logo. Stares at his phone. Sighs.

Three dots.

THREE DOTS.

DOT

DOT

DOT

Nothing. No reply.

He sighs. Puts it down. Looks at the logo he’s designing again. Types a few keystrokes.

A notification on the phone. He whisks it open and hungrily soaks in the info.

Emma’s messaged him back “No problem. See you soon?”

He clatters a reply back to her immediately.

Matt and Aaron again hanging out together in the kitchen.

--just be careful okay?

I’m telling you man it’s like she was inside my head. Like literally inside my brain and reading it like a book.

You can see how that might not be a good thing right?

I guess.

In any case she’s just a woman okay? They’re just as fucked up as us guys. Maybe more. So no pedestal okay?

It’s different this time though. I just know it. She’s different. This is something big I can feel it.

Does she feel the same way about you?

I-- I’m not sure.

I mean, did she at least say she wants to see you again?

Sort of? She said she’d see me soon.

I don’t think that’s exactly the same.

Aaron is walking down the LA sidewalk, holding his laptop under one arm. Across the street there’s outdoor tables and chairs setup for a cute French restaurant (CAFE FLAMBE).

Out of the corner of his eye, he spots her, Emma is sitting with ANOTHER MAN and laughing at his jokes over coffee. He freezes, his attention darts towards them.

Excuse me.

Aaron almost collides with a person who’s walked in front of him. His attention wavers and returns.

She’s GONE! Or was she never there?

Matt is hanging out with his friend CONNOR (30’s, suave, mustache), both on the couch sipping a drink.

Aaron rushes through the door and plunks his keys in the bowl. He huffs and walks to a corner of the kitchen.

What’s the fuss about?

I think I just saw her having a date with someone down at the French place. Not sure. I looked away and she was gone. Vanished.

(To Matt)

This the girl he’s crazy about?

Matt ignores Connor and addresses Aaron.

Okay, so what! If she was on a date with someone else that’s not a big deal. It’s not like she belongs to you or something.

Aaron is frozen in place next to the fridge, hand on the door, mid-opening.

I guess I thought we had some sort of connection.

How are you so sure it was her anyways?

She’s hard to miss. She’s got this burn scar on her face. Short hair. Vapes a lot.

Matt pulls his phone out with vigor.

Wait.

Matt holds up his phone, showing the IgnitR app he’s on. Aaron snatches it from him in a fervor. He inspects the image, it’s her alright.

So that’s her?

Oh shit.

Aaron soaks the image in as much as he humanly can. He pulls out his phone to compare pictures.

Wait, this girl?

Connor has his phone out too, he’s also matched with her. All three phones are put together, identical pictures and profiles. It’s her alright.

Aaron is deflated. Connor claps him on the back.

Looks like she’s not that into you dude. Bummer.

Aaron scrolls through the photos. Looks at the messages she’s sent to his friends.

A loud WHISTLING sound. Intense STEAM and PRESSURE.

Aaron is sitting at the coffee shop, picking up his Apple Pencil to work, thinking, putting it back down. Sighs. He takes his phone out and glances at it, then puts it back in his pocket.

Emma sits down next to him suddenly, vape in hand.

Ugh, Figured I’d find your lazy ass here.

Emma! Uhh. Hi?

He’s colder than usual.

Okay.. What’s this about?

She pulls at her vape while gesturing in his general vicinity.

You haven’t been answering my messages.

Insecure much? Yea, I’ve been busy. So what?

I mean. I figured you’d text me or something.

I will when I want to. Or I’ll just come and find you here like this...

I guess I just thought I meant-- something to you and we’d--

Emma puts her head on his hand like a pouting dog and looks up at him.

-- Oh you wouldn’t be mad at this face would you.

And I really enjoyed-- you-- the other day and I thought you liked it too. I thought it was the start of something.

Yes of course I enjoyed fucking you, but I don’t want to be tied down at the moment.

Aaron makes a mischievous face at her.

I mean in a relation--

Emma, underwear clad, is tied down to a table her scar prominent and somewhat inflamed. Aaron stands over her, dripping wax onto her.

--fuck that’s hot.

Oh shit. Too hot?

Emma rolls her eyes as hard as she can.

It’s supposed to hurt dumbass.

Aaron smacks her on the legs and she grimaces and smirks. Pain good.

So how’d you get the--

--Scar? Everyone asks. Boring. Impressed it too you so long to be honest.

Sorry. It’s kinda prominent.

Well, I got it in a freak cooking accident.

Oh, I’m so sorry--

--Actually. You know what.. I’ll tell you the real story. Because I like you.

What?

Oh, I like to make up different stories for people, sometimes it’ll be “as a kid I fell onto the fireplace”, or it’ll be “I was in a horrible car crash thank you very much for asking”, occasionally it’ll be “my father held a hot iron to my face to punish me when I was little” but for you... I’ll tell you what it was. Really. The truth. Promise.

Aaron absently holds the candle. It drips onto her and she winces. He shakes off his stupor and adjusts his grip.

But then what was it really? What’s the truth?

He purposely candle drips and she seethes a breath in, he pulls it back.

It was an ex. He was an abusive prick. Threw a pot of boiling water on me one night when he was drunk and we were fighting. I used to love fucking him when he was angry at me. That’s when men show you who they really are you know. Not when they’re balls deep inside you, but when they’ve got six beers in them and a simmering rage inside. A boiling fucking pot of it.

Aaron nods.

Wax is ready.

Aaron slowly, purposefully, drips the wax onto her. She squeezes in a ragged breath.

Sometimes I’ll do wax play because it reminds me of him. That burning sensation. I guess I still miss him. Not the fighting. But him. The way he smelled.

That’s fucked up.

Emma looks at him flatly. Gestures around them as best as she can while tied up.

Okay. Good point.

The door to Aaron’s apartment flings open as Emma and Aaron tumble through the door in a crescendo of wax and flying clothes.

They barely make it to the bed as they start making out.

It gets hotter in the room. Very hot. They sweat. Emma’s scar glistens with it.

They kiss and sweat. She shoves him onto his bed.

You’re mine now.

Huh?

She slaps him across the face, playfully.

Say it. Say you belong to me.

I-- belong to you.

She slaps him again on the face, a little more forcefully.

Good. You are mine. Now. Forever. Say it.

I belong to you.

Good Boy.

She rips his pants off and straddles him. Her chest is covered in a blanket of cream colored wax, obscuring her nakedness.

Say it.

I belong to you.

She bends down on top of him and breaths in his sweaty musk.

I want you. Under. My. Skin.

She sits up tall and grabs the wax at the center of her sternum and starts peeling it off her in big chunks as she rides him.

Mine.

Another big chunk.

MINE

A Chunk

MIIINNEE

Each chunk makes her wince in ecstatic pain as it comes off.

The STEAM sound RISES again and a shrill crescendo.

Suddenly it’s only sounds of traffic and birds in the well lit room.

Aaron is pacing back and forth in his sleep pants, gesticulating with his coffee mug in one hand.

The bed is completely disheveled, the covers are pulled all the way off and everything is covered in wax.

--was just gone when I woke up. Just like that. After the crazy night we had!

Take a breath. You’re spinning out about this.

Of course I’m spinning out about this Matt. It’s Emma! She’s incredible. This was the best sex of my life and I wake up and she’s gone.

He absently picks up a pillow from the bed. Sniffs it.

The fucking pillows smell like her. Damn.

I’m sorry. What?

Like her perfume and--

Dude, I think you should go take a walk.

He sniffs it again.

--Vape.

Aaron. Listen to me. Try to calm the fuck down okay? Just go do your routine. Self Attachment. Remember?

Aaron’s again trying to work but can’t. Every time someone walks in his general vicinity he’s distracted. He’s itchy. Jumpy.

He fiddles on his computer. Reverse image searches Emma and googles her. An article pops up. WOMAN WANTED FOR QUESTIONING IN STRING OF ARSONS.

He reads on. There’s a picture of multiple fires. He clicks on a link and there’s a short news broadcast.

Another mysterious arson today in Grenada Hills has been connected to this woman. We must warn you that what you’re about to see is very graphic.

We hear the sounds of a man screaming in agony, presumably burning inside his living room.

I. BELONG. TO. YOU.

If you or anyone you know has any information related to this incident, please call the police at--

The sound of a text message BONKs and Aaron whips out his phone.

It’s just Matt: “You okay dude?”

Aaron walks up to the head waiter of the French place with his phone out. He’s got a picture of Emma up.

Excuse me.

The waiter looks up at him with vague disdain.

I’m wondering if you’ve seen this woman here? Maybe on a date?

The waiter lazily looks at the picture on his phone, then his face CONTORTS with surprise. He SNATCHES it with both hands and looks up at Aaron with horror in his eyes.

Its.. It’s her. You’ve got her picture!?

What?

The waiter GRABS Aaron by the arm and growls at him in a low voice, masking his panic.

Come with me.

He leads him to the back, where the kitchen is. DAVID (30’s, tattoos, ear gauges) in a chef’s hat pours a dash of cognac onto a Creme Brûlée and sets it off with a hand torch into a flaming column that FLARES against the entering Aaron.

David! It’s her! She’s real!

The waiter holds up the phone. David snuffs the torch and grabs the phone out of his hand.

I fucking told you guys. She’s REAL.

David presenting the picture to the other chefs in the room.

Can someone explain what the hell is going on here?

David looks at Aaron with pity.

Jesus, she’s got you hasn’t she. Fuck. How do I explain this. She’s like a ghost or something. A fucking succubus.

An uncomfortable silence grips Aaron as the room looks at him. Pitying him.

What the hell are you talking about?

Look, I... I can’t explain it exactly. But she’s been at our restaurant with a bunch of different dates, and all the guys who’ve come get fucking burned. You should run dog.

I--

And none of us can get a picture of her. So we all kinda thought she was a ghost or something. The fact that you’ve got one is basically a miracle. Hell, none of us can even see her right. She’s kinda blurry.

Aaron snatches his phone back, cradles it tenderly.

Stop. Stop talking.

The closer we get to her table the harder it is to focus. Like looking through steam.

She’s a gotta be a demon or something.

Stop. STOP! All of you are WRONG.

Aaron storms out of the kitchen, with David following, trying to claw him back.

Wait! Dude!

What the fuck is wrong with you people? She’s beautiful. Can’t you see that? She’s amazing.

No, You gotta listen--

No you listen! I’m in love with her and you can’t change that and-- and-- I BELONG TO HER!

David gets an arm on his shoulder and wrestles him back from the doorway for an instant.

You’re in danger!

Aaron shoves him off and runs.

(Shouting)

Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Aarons slams his door shut and throws his jacket down. He’s on his phone immediately.

He messages her on his dating app “WYD? Come over?”. Starts pacing his room and shaking with nerves.

He goes to check his profile out of curiosity. All his profile pictures look.. Different.

SHE IS IN THE BACKGROUND OF ALL HIS PICTURES.

He doesn’t see it though it seems like. No reaction.

He gets a message from Emma. “Headed to the dungeon again. Wanna come?”

Aaron is sitting with Emma on his lap at the sex club. She’s vaping. But this time she looks different. Darker and more brooding. Half there. Her scar somehow seems larger.. Covering a significant portion of one side of her face.

You make me feel more alive than anyone has ever made me feel before. Ever!

Oh, that’s sweet.

I.. I have to have you. To be with you. To belong to you. I’m yours.

Emma looks at him and grabs his throat with the tenderness of a python.

You do belong to me.

Aaron looks at her with glazed eyes.

I do. I’m yours.

She releases his throat and slides her hand to his crotch and grabs.

Then get up. This way.

She gets up and leads him off.

Aaron is tying Emma up to the Saint Andrew’s Cross, he caresses her as they speak.

Tonight is our last night.

What? What do you mean?

I mean this is it. We’re finished when the scene is over.

No. Please? This... This has been incredible.

It just wouldn’t workout for you. I can tell. You’re folding.

How do you know? What if I--

Alright. Alright. You want me forever? Show me. Make me feel your desire. Be a real Dom for once.

Aaron picks up a small leather paddle and whacks her on the butt with it. He leans in and whispers in her ear.

I’m yours.

Aaron smacks her on the butt again. He leans in to whisper.

I belong to you.

Again. He swats her over and over in a slow rhythmic fashion. Each time leaning in to plead his undying fealty.

Aaron and Emma are curled up together on a couch. He’s fallen asleep. She’s wide awake, eyes open, thinking. He shifts his weight and she gets up quietly and quickly.

She walks off and out the door.

The rhythm turns into Aaron’s plodding feet as he trudges home. His face seems tired, looking at his feet.

Aaron comes through the door, closes it and just slumps onto the floor sobbing.

Aaron is writing a big letter on his computer. He gets a text from Matt. “Dude, you doing okay?”

He goes to send it off to Emma via the dating app. But he’s been disconnected.

What? NO!

He stands up in the middle of the coffee shop and everyone looks at him.

Aaron is hanging around there in hopes of bumping into Emma. He checks his phone. Nothing.

There’s two women spanking a man on a sawhorse. Another woman comes to approach him but can’t get his attention, Aaron just stares at his phone with the intensity of a dog.

Aaron stands on the sidewalk across the street and just stares at the French restaurant. Is she there?

The head waiter looks in his direction and spots him. Aaron turns and walks off briskly.

Aaron is swiping on his phone on the dating apps, each app he’s looking, desperately looking for Emma. She’s got to be in there somewhere.

Where. Where? Where is she?

There’s a knock on his door.

Aaron, hey bud, you in there?

Matt is standing outside the door. He’s holding a six-pack of ginger beer.

I hadn’t heard from you in a few days and you sounded pretty upset about that girl. So I brought some beers... Ginger Beer. Wanna talk?

Aaron looks through the peephole, Matt notices it.

Hey! Is that you? Open up.

Aaron reaches down to the door knob. There’s a noise like a match being struck behind him.

Don’t.

Aaron looks. She’s standing there, naked, more perfect than she ever was. The scar is HUGE.

It’s you.

Why are you still looking for me?

I-- I want you. You have to be here. You have to be mine.

I am here.

Emma gestures at him and Aaron rushes up to her, puts his hands on her arms. She pushes him back gently.

Please don’t leave. Please.

You want me to be with you?

Yes!

Forever?

Yes.

Matt puts his eye over the peephole.

Hey, Who are you talking to dude? Just let me in, okay? You’re freaking me out.

Aaron is oblivious to Matt outside now. He’s got his hands out, like a child trying to be picked up.

I-- I--

Then say it to me.

I-- I belong to you.

That’s right. You belong to me.

Aaron starts to tear up.

I- I don’t know who I am without you. I just want you. Because you-- You-- I need you. I need someone to belong to. I need...

That’s right. And you belong to me.

It’s getting brighter in the room. She’s glowing with a beautiful red haze. Aaron’s breathing it in, it’s inside his eyes.

Bang! Bang! Matt is knocking at the door louder now.

Come on man. Open up. I’m freaking out.

She’s moving towards him, FLOATING IN THE AIR, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He falls to his knees. Crying. Hands in the air.

Look.

She reaches out for him and lifts his chin up. He looks up and locks eyes with her.

So.. Beautiful.

She grabs his hand and puts it on her cheek, on the burn scar. It BURSTS INTO FLAME and both Aaron and Emma SCREAM IN UNISON, never breaking eye contact.

Matt sees smoke start to billow out from under the door and he looks into the peep hole to see flames.

Oh fuck.

He pulls his phone out and dials 911.

Hello! I’m at--

Emma caresses Aaron as she burns him. Scalding flesh.

I’M. YOURS.

Be consumed by my flames.

Emma shifts her eyes to the walls, the floor, and she she does they ignite and catch fire!

His whole body is aflame now, as he is on his knees, touching her body, literally worshipping her in all her effulgence.

We’re on the street, people crowded around as the apartment spits flame against the night sky. We hear Aaron SCREAM through the ROAR of the FLAMES.

I!! BELONG!! TO!! YOU!!

A firetruck pulls up and offloads right next to the gathering crowd as EMMA - the REAL EMMA - walks through them, vape in hand. She rolls her eyes at the gawkers and takes a pull, but nothing comes out.

Stupid Fucking Vape.

She throws it on the ground and steps on it, destroying it.