Lives are in danger and grief is shared next week in Emmerdale.
Little April Windsor continues to suffer vicious cyber-bullying but little does she know that her own best friend and aunt Cathy Hope is responsible for her torment.
However, in an interesting turn of events, Cathy finds herself unable to hide her guilt any further.
Elsewhere, Victoria Sugden and Wendy Posner's lives are in grave danger when evil Russ acts out to make sure he gets his dead mother's money.
Will both ladies survive his reign of terror?
Meanwhile, poor Leyla Harding is finally forced to be honest with her husband Dr Liam Cavanagh, but how will he react to her tragic news?
Wendy Posner and Victoria Sugden held hostage
Evil Russ has been worming his way into the village and blackmailing ex-wife Wendy Posner into silence in the process with a mystery secret - which fans already have some thoughts about - all with the aim of getting his hands on money left to Victoria Sugden for baby son Harry.
Next week, Russ reveals that he has been on the run after he gunned down a police officer in an armed robbery of a jewellery shop.
Russ pressures ex Wendy to get the money from Victoria, and the nurse succeeds but is left feeling guilty.
This prompts Russ to launch his backup plan as he gets a sawn-off shotgun from his car boot.
An oblivious Victoria soon confirms to Russ that she will give him the money the following day.
However, Wendy later goes to the Hide and tells Victoria everything about what Russ is up to and how he has been blackmailing her with something that could ruin her life if revealed.
Before Wendy can reveal her secret, however, Russ emerges and wants to know where the money is.
Trapped in the Hide with Russ, Victoria shows her disgust towards him and goes to call the police on the criminal.
However, Russ reaches into his coat and withdraws the shotgun and holds the pair hostage.
He orders Victoria and Wendy to hand their phones over before making sure the door is secure.
Both women are terrified as Russ points the gun at Victoria and demands the money.
Armed police turn up at the scene and full-blown siege occurs.
Standing outside, witnesses hear a gunshot ring out.
Has someone been killed in the process?
Leyla Harding tells Dr Liam Cavanagh about her miscarriage
Elsewhere next week, Leyla is seen at the village surgery and plans to keep it a secret from Liam by getting a scan alone.
Later, Liam spots that Leyla’s friend Priya Sharma is a bit shifty about her and decides to confront his wife.
Leyla reveals to Liam that she had been pregnant but suffered a miscarriage.
Will Liam be able to put aside his grief for murdered teenage daughter Leanna and support Leyla through this difficult time?
Cathy Hope confesses to bullying April Windsor
Next week, April Windsor’s phone begins receiving nasty messages as it dawns on her that her phone number has been shared online by whoever.
However, with this comes a clue as she realises someone she knows and has her number has shared it.
Cathy Hope is clearly troubled by April’s realisation as it could lead back to her.
As April feels sick and nervous over what is going on she heads home from school early without telling anyone.
Dad Marlon tries to discover what is upsetting his daughter after gets home, but the conversation is cut short when Cathy arrives.
Once the pair are left to talk by Marlon, it is clear that Cathy is starting to feel guilty for what she has put April through.
Despite this, the messages from April’s bully grow increasingly nasty and threaten April, prompting the young girl to break down in tears.
Cathy is horrified to see the level of distress she is putting her friend through and what damage she is causing.
Later, Cathy feels increasingly troubled by her guilt and heads to former step-mother Brenda’s cafe and speaks with twin brother Heath Hope.
Feeling overwhelmed with guilt, Cathy decides to come clean about her behaviour to Heath and confesses that she is April’s bully.
How will Heath react to Cathy’s revelation and what will he decide to do about it?
Will he tell their dad Bob Hope?
And, most importantly, how long will it be before April and Marlon discover what Cathy has done?
Also next week
David Metcalfe in the HOP office to use the scanner as the siege occurs inside the Hide and has no idea that Victoria and Wendy are in grave danger.
Meanwhile, vicar Charles Anderson professes his love to Andrea Tate, but will she say it back?
Also next week, Charity Dingle pushed Mackenzie Boyd to keep their affair a secret so he puts Diane Sugden off the scent by flirting with her daughter Bernice Blackstock.
Elsewhere, Kim Tate returns home to Home Farm after her time away and is outraged to find her estranged son Jamie Tate living there again with pregnant Gabby Thomas.
Marlon Dingle, meanwhile, makes a very reckless gamble.
Finally, as she tries to treat her post-natal depression, Tracy Metcalfe tells her fiance Nate Robinson to not expect things to be fixed quickly.
However, he is proud of her for the steps that she has taken.
Will the pair get things back on track?
*Emmerdale airs on weekdays at 7pm on ITV with previous episodes available on ITV Hub.
