Intertwined

The Devil is Human

A/N: Being here and writing this story about my comfort characters from The Nursery Nurse is my favourite escape at the moment. I feel, like many in TNN fandom, that Charlotte and her characters have helped me through so much. I feel seen and heard through so many of the different topics the episodes and storyline's talk about.

This chapter is going to be a longer one as I've broken up drama with some nice little moments, but all to move things forward.

TW: mention of burns and experiences of PTSD, homophobia.

As always, please seek help if you are struggling.

Helplines
Australia:
Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7)
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)

UK:
Samaritans 116 123 (24/7)
Childline 0800 1111 (24/7)

Please feel free to add other local services in the comments and I will add them all in a list. I wasn't sure what other countries to add and found it difficult to get accurate ones on Google. It kept giving me Australian ones again as that's where I am.

A lesson that needs to be more common is that people who hurt other people usually just look like everyone else. Now I don't mean, hurt as in hurt feelings, although that can be part of it. I mean that there are some people that do such horrible acts to others that society often labels them 'monsters', 'evil' and with stereotypical monster like features and stories and behaviour. This ignores the fact that the majority of violent crimes committed against people, especially against women and children are perpetrated by people they know. Even people they love and trust.

The people committing these crimes are often looked at elsewhere in their lives as good people, as upstanding citizens, pillars of the community, as harmless, as trustworthy. Well, you get the idea; not monsters.

I'm telling you this because we have all fallen for the trap at one point. The idea that evil monsters are easy to spot and easy to avoid. If that were true we wouldn't ever hear comments like: 'he was so quiet and normal' or 'they used to coach kids soccer how could they hurt someone?' when talking about people who have committed awful crimes.

Now I'm not saying we should be worried about dangerous criminals around every corner, but we definitely shouldn't be assuming that the only people who commit crimes, look like they commit crimes. If that were the case, no one outside of Roger Knights inner circle would have ever believed what he was capable of and if innocence was about community image, social standing and power then there's no way Roger Knight could have committed such awful crimes.

The truth is the devil looks human because they are human. Just like you and me. That's how they get away with their crimes and abhorrent behaviour for so long.

To take down a devil, to expose and stop people such as Roger Knight, to rip open their false facade into everyone's view, takes a combined effort of good people. People who are often risking their lives and safety for a cause they believe in, a cause of truth and justice and love. Something worthy of risking everything for.

That's where our friends find themselves a week after that first reunion with Michael and Lily. A week after Roger was able to return home, a week after they first discussed trapping Roger in a confession and finding his collection of trophies.

***

I open my eyes, groggy from the anaesthetic. The room is a little blurry, but I can smell my favourite perfume, hear my favourite song and the blinds are drawn so it's not too bright.

After my initial freak out when waking up in hospital, Mia and Vivian decided it would be helpful to create an atmosphere in the room to appeal to all my senses in a gentle and familiar way. To help my mind readjust as I woke up. I was so grateful. It made me feel so warm and safe. I sighed out loud and saw Mia come into focus, dancing near the end of my bed. When she heard me she spun around and I giggled that I had caught her mid dance.