The Arrangements Have Been Made

"Okay then! That completes our tour, did you have any questions?" the overly perky nurse smiles sappily at Steve and Kayla.

"See Sweetness," Steve gushes "Isn't this place wonderful?"

"I don't know Steve," Kayla says as she looks around. The folder in her hands, a disgustingly cheerful yellow with a smiling cartoon baby on the cover, feels heavy in her hands.

"Oh now you just calm yourself down now little mama." The Stepford nurse leads Kayla to an overstuffed chair, and has her sit. "Now just put your feet up, I'll fetch you a blanket and a cup of herbal tea and our director will be right in to finish our intake session."

"Really, I'm not tired I..." Kayla says

"Oh nonsense, now. We just walked a whole 100 feet during our tour. You must be exhausted!" The nurse talks as she tucks a fluffy blanket around Kayla's legs. "Now, I'll be right back with that tea."

As Kayla sits in the richly appointed reception area, she starts to notice the other pregnant women in the center. Each was followed closely by a babbling perky nurse, carrying blankets, pillows and a small basket filled with an array of snacks and drinks. All were similarly dressed in thick bathrobes, fluffy slippers and pajamas all in nauseating shades of pink and blue.

Above a huge fireplace there was an oil painting of a baby. The longer Kayla looked at it the more it un-nerved her. The baby was smiling but there was something almost demonic about it's eyes.
There was even something about the name of the place that didn't seem quite right. The Aremid - Onafets Center For High Risk Pregnancies. Kayla just couldn't put her finger on what it was about that name that just bothered her.

Steve was back by her side pushing a cup of tea into her hands.
"Steve really, I don't want any tea" Kayla protested.

"Oh come on Sweetness, just drink it, you'll feel so much better, I promise.'

"But I don't feel bad!" Kayla insisted "Really, Steve"

"It's okay Mr. Johnson." A voice came from behind Kayla's chair "I am sure your wife will want her tea later."

A tall woman with pale skin and jet black hair stepped in front of Kayla and Steve. She wore a Chanel suit in classic pink and black. Not a hair was out of place, and every piece of jewelry she wore seemed to have been deliberately chosen to accent her outfit.

"Too perfect..." Kayla whispered to herself as she stared at the woman

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, I am the director Olivia Aremid." The woman extended her perfectly manicured hand to Kayla.

A chill shot through Kayla as she touched the woman's hand to shake it. The hand was cool and smooth, and didn't feel alive.

"Please come into my office"

Steve and Kayla followed Olivia into her office. A massive desk dominated the room, curiously devoid of paperwork or any trace of evidence that any work was done there.

"Now to finalize your admission, Mrs. Johnson." Olivia smiled as she sat behind the desk. "We just need your husband to sign this one last form and we can take you to your room."

"Now? But I'm not due for months." Kayla said "There's no reason for me to be here now."

"Mrs. Johnson, you must understand.." Olivia began

"DOCTOR Johnson," Kayla interrupted "I am a doctor, I know how to take care of myself."

"With all due respect Dr. Johnson" Olivia says calmly "You are not an OB, so you can't possibly understand the complexities of a high risk pregnancy such as yours."

"And that's another thing, why am I considered high risk? I feel fine. All my tests have been fine. There's nothing wrong with me." Kayla says

"Now sweetness, you don't know everything there is to know about all this baby stuff" Steve hugged Kayla and rubbed her stomach as he talked "We just want to have a happy healthy baby now don't we."

Kayla pushes Steve away and stands up "STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU! I AM NOT SICK!"

"Dr. Johnson you need to calm down" Olivia spoke slowly "Let me ring for some tea for you."

"I DON'T WANT ANY DAMN TEA!" Kayla turns and starts for the door. "AND I AM NOT STAYING HERE!"

Before she can take more than a few steps, Kayla feels a sharp jab in her arm. She turns to see Olivia pushing the plunger on a needle in her arm. Suddenly the room starts to spin. Kayla struggles to stay standing, but her knees give way and she falls into Steve's waiting arms.
Steve picks her up and lays her on the sofa in Olivia's office.

Kayla watches, helpless as Steve goes back over to the desk and starts signing the paper.

"No, Steve, stop" Kayla tries to talk, but the words don't seem to make any sound. The room begins to spin faster now and Kayla can barely even think.
Something catches her eye and she notices a huge mirror on one side of the room. In the reflection she can see the fireplace and the oil painting of the baby, but also something else. Carved into the mantle of the fireplace is the name of the center, but in the mirror it is backwards.

Kayla stares at the name. Suddenly she see it. A scream forms in her mind, but she can't move to make it happen. The name. Why didn't she see it before, why didn't she realize......The Aremid - Onafets Center......The STEFANO DIMERA Center!!!!!

Steve is next to her again. "Okay sweetness, everything is set, they're going to take you to your room now. I'll be back tomorrow to see how you are doing."

"Steve, no no no, don't leave me, no" Kayla struggles to speak but no words will come out.

"Shhh now, don't try to talk, everything is okay." Steve says

Kayla realizes she has to make him hear her, make him understand. With her last ounce of strength she manages to get two words out....
"THE NAME!" She says

"Name?" Steve smiles "Oh sweetness, of course, we'll talk about a name for the baby tomorrow when I come visit."

The door to the office opens and a perky nurse comes in with a wheel chair. She already has the basket of snacks and a blanket over her arm. On the side of the basket Kayla sees her name on a small brass tag. The nurse helps Steve place Kayla in the chair and starts to tuck the blanket around her.

Suddenly Kayla's blood runs cold. The nurse. She knows her. It's Willow Stark!

"I am going to take such good care of you Kayla" Willow chirps "Now let's go see your new home...."