Belle Dingle finally made a run from abusive husband Tom King in last night’s episode of Emmerdale. Climbing aboard a waiting bus, it seemed as though Belle had escaped her husband’s reign of terror once and for all.
This came as their romantic getaway soured, with Tom putting his plan to forever isolate Belle from her friends and family from the Dales into action. As the pair hunkered down in a remote cottage in Wales, Tom’s true colours didn’t take long to re-emerge.
Belle flees as Tom attacks
After locking pup Piper outside overnight, Tom continued his abuse of Belle, sending her spinning to the floor with a violent slap. As she cowered on the floor, bleeding, while Tom ranted at her, something snapped within Belle.
Snatching up Piper, she fled from the house, locking Tom inside. This gave Belle the distance she needed to run – making her way across the Welsh wilderness to the road, where she managed to flag down a solitary bus.
As Tom raged, Belle and Piper climbed aboard… finally free of terrible Tom.
But for how long?
Emmerdale fans worry that Tom might catch Belle
As the credits rolled on the episode, a number of soap fans fretted that Belle’s escape may not be so clear-cut. Indeed, some wondered whether Tom might catch up with his wife still.
“We’ve still got Friday yet…” warned one fan on Reddit, as viewers cheered on Belle’s escape.
“I have a sick feeling that Tom will be at the next bus stop, so I hope the driver calls ahead for the police to ensure there is no incident,” said another.
“Why didn’t Belle take the car? Hopefully she’s hidden Tom’s keys so he can’t race after the bus,” a third worried.
“I just have a feeling it doesn’t end here and he’ll drive after the bus. Hope I’m wrong and he gets a Cain-ing,” said another.
Has Belle finally managed to escape Tom… or does he have more up his sleeve for her and Piper?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.