This week’s Emmerdale opens with an atmosphere you just want to hold your breath.

April finally confesses to Marlon and Rhona about what she’s been through, and that confession brings with it an even more painful truth: Dylan was so severely harmed that he’s fallen into a coma and is hospitalized, a final blow to everything.

Marlon no longer has the option of “letting it go,” because the longer it drags on, the more dangerous it becomes.

He decides to take April to the police, hoping that at least the law can create a temporary barrier between the family and the villainous Celia and Ray.

But, as the worst part of life is when you just touch hope, it suddenly fades. Celia doesn’t wait for anyone to call her name. She stormed into Marlon and Rhona’s house, walking straight in like the boss, and unleashed a chilling barrage of threats: “If you speak, you’ll pay the price.” The scene of her grabbing Rhona’s face was both intimidating and a way of “marking territory,” as if to say, “I can do whatever I want, and you’d better remember that.” Rhona was terrified not only for herself, but also for April, for Dylan, and for the entire house to become a target.

The most terrifying thing about Celia was that she didn’t need to shout. She spoke softly, but each word was like a needle piercing her heart. After her threats, she left, leaving behind an incredibly thick silence in the house. And it was that silence that broke everyone: Marlon wanted to do the right thing, Rhona wanted to protect her family, April was both guilty and terrified, and Dylan’s hospitalization tormented everyone. While the village was still adorned with festive lanterns, their house felt like it was at war.