Aside from what’s happening with the Dingles, the dark side of Emmerdale is also boiling.

April Windsor and Dylan Penders are trying to escape Ray Walters’ control – and the situation is getting more serious.

April already has a difficult past – now she’s being dragged into a “contract” set by Ray: starting with Dylan working as a delivery man, then April is asked to do other “jobs”.

Dylan wants out, April is scared but still tries.

When Ray finds out Dylan is trying to escape, he changes direction: April will have to pay. Meanwhile, Dylan tries to find the key – when he stole it from Vinny – to help them escape. The scene of Dylan sneaking out to get the key, the warehouse lights dim, his heart pounding – that’s when viewers know: there’s no going back.

One night, April and Dylan meet on a small bridge, under a flickering streetlight. April whispers: “If we don’t run now, we’ll be chained forever.” Dylan nods. Across the street, Ray Walters appears, his shadow stretching out in the light – both startled. Dylan’s car starts up, the two of them drive away, Ray silently watches. That moment is breathtaking. Next week, Ray confronts Dylan: he forces Dylan to take the trip to Hull – Dylan is scared but doesn’t dare refuse; April is called up, forced to listen to the trip and knows “someone else is going instead”. April is terrified. When she walks up to Ray, he says bluntly: “Someone is doing your job – if you don’t do it, you’ll lose everything.” April backs away – and Ray’s footsteps pound.

This makes April lose control even more. He’s not just a creditor – he’s a living master. When Dylan looked at April and saw her crying, he decided: not just to run away – but to fight back. That afternoon, Dylan went alone, April following closely. Ray stood at the end of the road, his eyes cold. Ray said: “You choose – or I choose for you.” April closed her eyes, hesitated – then nodded.
The atmosphere was a mixture of desire for freedom and fear. Dylan – one hand holding the equipment bag, April – one hand holding the bag and looking behind. When they drove out of the village, the car was covered in trees, the taillights flashing – and Ray stood there, as if watching the two shadows disappear into the night. The ending scene left the viewer breathless and foreboding: this escape was only just beginning.