...at the stroke of twelve

Kieren's beginning to think that minding his own business is something of the past. It's not like Roarton had let him just exist, but now he's got doors to worry about. He's starting carrying NT-Plus around with an injector just in case he gets stuck, but even that's a dodgy thing considering Dr. Russo doesn't seem to be around any longer, not since...well, he doesn't want to think about it. The bungalow hasn't been safe because he'd stumbled through to his very favourite hotel-in-the-sky and home isn't much better. And trying to explain to his parents and Jem that there's a magical hotel that he can access through doors would probably only get him locked up again, so he's keeping this one to himself.

He's not even sure he's ready to tell Simon, quite honestly. It's a bit of a strain on a new relationship, saying that Kieren can walk through universes. After the whole 'I'm not special', he's pretty sure that one might backfire on him.

Still, he has to tell someone, because he hasn't just found himself in the hotel this time. He'd been warned about the doors, but hearing something is one thing. Experiencing it is a complete other and this one is...well, it's not exactly ideal. Kieren hasn't worn the contacts and mousse since Maxine's terror on Roarton, but he's not sure fitting in is his goal.

That said, standing just outside a door that doesn't lead back to where he wants it to, looking like the other zombies around you might actually be a win for once. Hands shaking (and Kieren not even noticing), he tries to breathe calmly and tell himself that rabid isn't contagious, that it's not automatic, and even if it were, he can fight it off. He knows he can.