With Eric Pollard being attacked in the shop in Emmerdale, the village all of a sudden feels under threat.
And when the thugs that did it return brandishing knives, things are about to get very dark indeed.
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There might have been plenty of murders and deaths in the Dales before now, but this display of violence definitely seems more sinister.
Eric was assaulted by Josh and Jamie in a robbery at David’s shop. They smacked him in the stomach with a baseball bat and left him fearing for his life.
Dan Spencer, who was in the shop when the attack happened, but was too frozen with fear to do anything to help Eric, blames himself for the vicious assault.
With Pollard rushed to hospital, he has fortunately pulled through, but the shock is that Jamie and Josh were released on bail pending further investigation.
Feeling like they’ve got away with it, the yobs decide to torment the villagers some more, thinking they’re untouchable.
Waving knives around and running riot, the residents start to fear the boys will do some serious damage with their weapons.
Eric isn’t taking any chances and arms himself with a cricket bat, ready to fight back should they come into the shop again.
But Dan’s still afraid, and when the thugs threaten Amelia, he once again does nothing and is even intimidated into retracting his statement against them to the police.
David also blames Dan for the attack on his dad, and Dan generally feels like an outcast.
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With a scared Eric working in the shop again, Tracy decides to check on him, but he’s so terrified he lashes out with his bat.
And when Jamie and Josh return, he threatens them with it. Will it be enough to scare them off?
Or are they here to stay? What is it exactly that the thugs wants from the villagers? When will they be satisfied enough to leave them all alone? Or will someone get seriously hurt before they realise they’ve gone too far?