Welcome to Aztec Springs it is a new scripted web series. Debuting Febuary 24, 2010 it’s a series about love, life, family, and deception. The new web series ask the question, how well do you know the one you love? With a population of 7,520 it’s a few hours from Las Vegas. Expect the unexpected with Aztec Springs. Enjoy your stay but be warned what happens in Aztec Springs stays in Aztec Springs…
Written and Produced By: Chris Coleman
Editor: Chris Coleman
Site and Graphics: Kelly
Coding and Layout: Kelly
©2009-2010 Aztec Springs The images used within these pages are intended solely for illustrative purposes, and in no way signify endorsement or participation on the subjects' behalves.
The room was junky from his own doing. Noah had leftover room service everywhere. The DVD played one scene over and over again from movie. Everything was blurry and the crystal meth had him doped up beyond belief. Sometimes when he concentrated on the outlets in the wall insects were crawling on him. Noah was numb from the fear. He didn't want them on him. Yet he couldn't stop them from getting him. It was like they were getting closer and closer. So he was locked in the bathroom tub. The room was pitch black so he couldn't see them on him. The Four Horsemen Casino towels covered the cracks under the door. Tissue stuck in the cervices of light coming through the room.
“Stay away from me!” He screamed paranoid that the bugs coming to get him.
He'd found a new connection from a guy at the casino. After Drea confronted him he wanted to get away. For a whole day he'd been held up in the room getting high. The argument continued until he needed a hit so badly he left. She could pretend everything was alright but he knew the truth. She'd never look at him the same again. He was tainted just like her father. The self loathing started to blur into his mind. All he wanted to do was numb that feeling. That aching guilt that tortured him. All he wanted was the pain to leave. Knowing how disappointed everyone would be in him. Knowing his girl damn sure didn't want him anymore. Knowing he was alone made him want to end it all. Roy Ortega wouldn't want that. Noah started to cry. He was thinking about killing himself and his brother. His fellow solider was dead. Roy had a daughter and he was being a bitch. Noah felt himself getting pissed off. But the drugs kept him in a trance.
Noah felt them all over him even though he had sealed the room. His eyes filled with tears. He couldn't believe it. Jumping up he walked swiftly to the door. When he walked out Noah felt it. They were all over him. The expectations, the goals, and tears that would be shed when the truth came out. Noah grabbed his jacket. When it rained in Aztec Springs it didn't stop.
Running out of the room he felt the expectations shedding off of him. Noah wasn't a drug user in the outside. Noah was just like everyone else. He didn't see his friends die in front of them. The outside world of his own mind was mask to hide everything. Walking into the parking lot he spotted Dias Marcosi. The men locked eyes and he kept walking. Getting in his car he pulled off swiftly leaving behind the pain of his own thoughts.
He took a deep breath and prepared to drive home. This was the only place he felt safe. Everything else was like a walking festering wound. He saw Iraq every move he made. He saw how he walked into a trap and got everyone killed. Noah swerved down the street moving fast through the streets. Noah felt his high wearing off, he decided once home he'd smoke again. Noah pulled up to his home and smiled. Nobody was home. He'd be in peace to smoke.
Walking into the door he flipped over the WELCOME mat and pulled the spare key. Unlocking the door he walked into his house. He walked into his room and sat on his bed. Pulling out his pipe he smiled. Lighting his drug a giddy joy flew over him. He was through with the worries and her comes the clarity. Noah took a deep puff. Once a similar feeling entered his body. He looked up to see his kid sisters' eyes staring at him like he was a monster.
“Mac it's not what it looks like.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Mackenzie was in her room and thought it was her parents. When she saw Noah's light on she got excited. But her excitement swiftly turned in horror seeing her brother sucking on a pipe. “Oh my God.” She cried out looking at Noah. “What are you doing?” Mackenzie screamed stepping back.
“It's okay kid, don't worry.” He said quivering. “Come here I'm still your big brother!” Noah screamed at her.
Mackenzie back away and swiftly made it to the stairs.
Noah ran to her, grabbing her arm. “Mac listen you can't tell anyone what you saw.”
“Let go of me.”
Noah heard that and saw Lisa Ortega face snatching back from him.
“I'm sorry Lisa.” He said looking at his sister but seeing Lisa's face.
“Let go of me Noah.” Mackenzie didn't like the look in his eyes. He looked like he was about to snap her neck. His grip was so firm that it sent a chill down her spine.
Instead of hearing his sister voice he heard Lisa haunting scream when he delivered the news of Roy's death.
Noah let go of Mackenzie and she flew down the stairs.
Lisa was gone but his drugs were here. Noah walked down the stairs and back to his car leaving his sister laying unconscious.
“Hello?” Drea said walking into the Noah's parents home. “Oh my God.” She said seeing Mackenzie laid out on the floor. “Mackenzie!” She screamed running to the girl she'd come to look at as a little sister. Mackenzie felt so out of place. She felt her. Being one of the few African-American girls in school was a unique experience. So she understood how out of place and weird the teen years were.
Mackenzie jerked back looking at Drea. “Where is he?” She said looking at her confused on where her brother was. Her eyes were watering as she touched her head. A small gash was on her head. Touching the little blood.
“Who? Who did this to you Mackenzie?” Drea asked with concern. She ran to the bathroom, opening the cabinet and grabbed the first aid kit. Walking swiftly to Mackenzie she started to clean her wound.
“It was Noah. I caught him smoking some sort of drug.” She answered shaking still. “Drea he's snapping he kept calling me Lisa. I don't know who that is.” Mackenzie smiled as Drea placed a band-aid over her head. Her head hurt but she was okay.
Lisa Ortega name instantly rang a bell. Noah went to California to tell the woman her husband was died. She started to cry.
“I found some drugs Mackenzie. I don't know what's going on with him,” Drea said clearing her throat, “You should come with me just in case he comes back. We need to talk about what you saw.”
Looking at Mackenzie face she felt her confusion and pain. “You'll never see that again. I swear.” Drea said hugging Mackenzie tight.
He awoke and didn't hear anyone at the house he instantly felt his anger rise. He was pissed at himself for not awaking sooner. Even more pissed he was now hearing his grandson was on drugs. Was his family crashing around him? His eyes filled with water as he watched Drea walk out with Mackenzie. If that girl thought she was going to keep Noah's addiction a secret she had another thing coming.
His phone rang with a unknown number.
“He's Nicholas Callaghan! What does that mean?”
“Find the briefcase. Find your answers.”
“What briefcase?” Adam asked his new found friend.
“They say Thorn Armitage somehow knew exactly who Anthony really is.” The voice said.
“There is a briefcase out there with the truth about Anthony in there? Where is it?”
“That's no fun.” The voice laughed.
For the first time Adam truly felt more than hate. This person feed on the thrill of destroying Anthony. Adam mind raced on who exactly it could be. This caller motives always were questionable but now he felt this was game. “Damn it this monster is married to my daughter and you aren't telling me exactly how to take him down?” The room was dark the normally bursting with bright colors. It was starting to feel impossible to save his family. Tears slid down his face as he sat back down. He was so hurt for Jennifer. His soul ached for Noah. His grandson had returned from Iraq broken. Drugs were to heal him. He couldn't focus on that currently. Letting his emotion get the best of him he screamed.
“Now damn it tell me what the hell I need to do to find this briefcase!”
“It's here for you to find. Now find it Adam. I've hidden it. This isn't a game to me but I want you all to figure out what a monster he truly is. The center of Aztec Springs was built around this location. But it's built on the blood of lot's of people. Find where blood as shed in this compound the most and you'll find the next clue.”
The line went completely dead.
Adam quickly jotted down the number clue. Then pulled out his cellphone and called Anthony.
“Sir please stop.” Desmond said shaking underneath his boss grip.
Anthony dropped the man as his chest heaved in and out. “I asked you to do one very simple thing. Locate that briefcase and yet you can't do that. I should kill you. But I need you to go to West Lake, New York.”
He cleared his voice as he walked to his desk. Sitting down he smiled looking at the man.
“Ryan Davison has done many jobs for me before. I need you to locate him and tell him to find that fucking briefcase. I'm pessimistic that you will locate Ryan and give him this mission.” Anthony picked up his cigar. He would never smoke in front of his family but this was a private luxury.
He slowly got up as he puffed the cigar. “But let me tell you if you tell me Ryan can't do this. Or you can't find him after I've given you where he stays. I'll kill you.” Grabbing Desmond arm he branded him with his cigar.
Desmond screamed in pain flying back away from Anthony.
“Find that fucking briefcase or you and your family will be dead.” Walking back to the desk he sat down. “Get out of my sight.” His personal cellphone rang. Anthony felt himself growing irritated when he saw Adam calling. Foolish man he had disgraced him in every way and he didn't even know it. Call it narcissistic but he loved being in control of everyone without them knowing it. Tapping his fingers against the wood of his desk. He flipped open the phone. “Adam how are you?”
“I'm fine Nicholas Callaghan.”
That sent Anthony through a loop. He couldn't believe that Adam called him by his real name. Out of common knowledge he eliminated Genievea due to Adam hating her. So who else wanted his cover blown?
“Who is that Adam?” Anthony asked.
“Don't play games with me Nicholas or else I'll go to Jennifer and reveal everything I know about your life in Texas. How long did you think that you were going to get away with this double life? You are going meet me at the Four Horsemen Casino in a hour. Or else I'm calling the newspapers and Jennifer. Everyone will know exactly who you are understood?'
Anthony gritted his teeth he hated to be had by the balls.
“Fine I'll meet you.”
He pressed end and bit the bottom of his lip. What had Adam learned and who lead him to it? He had covered his tracks for years. Now of all time secrets wanted to rear their ugly heads? Anthony wasn't having it. Unlocking a drawer in his desk he pulled out a gun.
“Darlene Connery is a devoted mother, a loving friend, and wonderful wife. She's spent the last twenty years giving her life to Richard Connery. She was head of the town's charity fund to disaster victims and she was a prominent woman of the community. Can any of you imagine after twenty years of loving a man coming home to find him with a younger woman? Place yourself in Darlene's shoes for just a second. How would she feel? I'll tell you how, she was destroyed; devastated and weakened at the sight of her work and dedication towards her marriage deteriorate right before her eyes. Darlene has lost her place in the community that Richard gave to her. Now all she's asking is for her allocation. What's due to her after twenty years of being the wife to this man who betrayed there vows. Is it too much to ask for justice for a woman scorned, tarnished, and tossed to the side after all the years of marriage?” Natalie's words came out effortlessly as they did always.
But today was different. Her whole body ached as she stood frozen in dizziness. The room started to spin as if she was on a roller coaster ride. The artwork that was on the walls looked as if they were coming at her. The desk looked so far away. Slowly stepping back she felt her legs giving out. Natalie stared to walk away from the jury as her legs gave in. She back onto the floor as the courtroom became silent.
Natalie saw the bright lights of the courtroom before she closed her eyes.
“It's like there's no history of Anthony Stallworth before he arrived to Aztec Springs.” He said looking at Jennifer.
He reached over as he covered his hand.
“I'm sorry Jennifer we can keep looking if you want,” Cole cleared his throat as he looked around his office sitting down on the edge of the desk, “Do you think he's hiding his family for a reason?”
“I've shared my most intimate thoughts on my family with him. Why wouldn't he do the same?” She said as her eyes teared a little.
Cole exhaled loudly wanting to take away her pain.
“It's been more than twenty years and he can't respect that I would keep whatever secret or pain he has? That enough to drive a woman crazy. I can't take that.” She felt herself becoming more and more reclusive. Her family was slowly disintegrating before her eyes. It was like sand slipping though her fingers. “I asked him who he was. He said he was my husband but those words sounded so hollow. It wasn't real.”
Jennifer stood up walking around the room pacing back and forth. “What if his name isn't even Anthony?”
Cole had already thought about that. Anthony life was pretty amazing. He was a award winning philanthropist, a industrialist, and quite the business man. Back in the day Cole wouldn't of wanted anyone with Jennifer. When he heard about her wedding to Anthony he was proud some big guy married her. He was mad for Natalie and sadly seeing her like this made him feel horrible. “I'm not quite sure what to do. You've been a friend for so long and to see you like this hurts.”
“How is Natalie?” She asked looking at Cole.
“We have our problems but were in love. I'm sorry this must be the worst conversation ever.” He laughed awkwardly. “You know I got tested a few years ago. We thought for so long that it was me. That I was reason that we couldn't have children. I blamed everything on me but that test proved it. It changed our relationship. She found out she was infertile and it became too much for her. I think she resent the fact that she's the reason we can't have kids you know?” Cole never talked about the pain he felt for so many years. It felt good releasing it all out.
“I never will take for granted the fact I had children. I never you wanted them so badly Cole.” She said softly touching his hand.
“What guy doesn't want to raise a son? Or have a daughter whose just as beautiful as her mother.” He cleared his throat and smiled looking at Jennifer. “Listen we'll try some more tomorrow. I have to go see my parents but I if you need anything.”
“I know.”
“Good. Jennifer you deserve to be happy don't let Anthony take your happiness.”
Anthony approached Adam from behind and cleared his throat.
“So what do you think you know Adam?” Turmoil built inside of him he didn't deserve for this to go down like this. Out of all the people Adam figured everything out?
Adam waited collecting his thoughts. For so many years he had hated this man. Now the time had came. The time he had been waiting for since the moment Anthony married his beloved daughter. He almost spoke up but then nothing came out. Every word had so much hate and anger spewed at it Anthony. As a father you dream of the best for your children. You never expect for your children to get involved with someone or something like this. Jennifer deserved better and he was so glad her protective little brother wasn't around. Julian would have had killed Anthony.
“Why her?” A gravely tone flew out of his mouth.
“What do you mean?” Anthony contemplated each and every word that came out of his mouth. He didn't want to deal with this. Not when a briefcase with the truth was floating around. Somehow he'd have to find a way to keep Adam quiet. Nothing came to mind on how to stop this bastard from going to Jennifer. He wouldn't lose her.
“Was it because the uncanny resemblance to Ruth-Ann? Why target my daughter?”
“I love her!” he screamed losing his cool for the first time, “Does any of this matter? I've built a life with her. We've had children and our life good why are you ruining it?”
Anthony said turning away.
Adam face looked puzzled he had never seen his son-in-law like this. “What's the matter Anthony afraid that I'm about to tell my child?”
“What are one of those parents who want to have there daughters in bed?”
“What did you say you bastard.” Adam grabbed Anthony as he grabbed a hold of the man. “Tell me!” He screamed loudly.
“You want to know?” Anthony spewed spit out of his mouth. His eyes crazed.
A chill ran down Adam spine feeling the insanity flowing through Anthony. Something was seriously off about this man.
“Follow me to the house and I'll tell you everything.” Anthony finally snatched back breaking eye contact.
Camryn Spencer walked into the Four Horsemen Casino for the slot machines and maybe some trouble. She saw two men in a fisticuffs. She watched behind a big plant listening to the argument.
“The name I got at birth wasn't Anthony Stallworth but Nicholas Callaghan. We need to talk in private.” Anthony started to walk away and looked back to see Adam following.
Anthony looking outside of the glass door thunder crackled and all he knew was tonight would change everything.
Camryn watched the men exit and bit down on her bottom lip. What had she stumbled into? Her candy red lips arched with a slick smile. “Did I just get another golden ticket?” Leaning against the wall her eyes glistened with the rain and money. Greed fueled her body as she walked away. Even if she didn't get what she wanted from Brian, she now had a new target- Anthony Stallworth.