Charity and Cain unite to save missing Belle from evil Tom in Emmerdale but they’re too late
Emmerdale’s Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) is certain Tom King (James Chase) is a wrong’un and she’s on a mission to bring him down to save Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper). But with the rest of the Dingle women against her, there’s only one person she can turn to for help – Cain (Jeff Hordley).
So far, Cain has had no idea Belle is under any threat. But Charity has recognised the signs, having seen her own behaviours mirrored in Belle from when she was being abused by Bails. ‘She sees that Belle has suddenly become a shadow of her former self,’ actress Emma tells Metro.co.uk.
Charity is convinced Belle needs her help and when she learns that Tom’s job interview is in Wales and that he’s whisked Belle out of the village before the family could find out, she knows she’s onto something.
Deciding something needs to be done, she calls in the big guns – Cain.
![Cain and Charity looking around a trashed cottage in Emmerdale](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/23_07_emm_cain_charity_03-6143.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=644%2C440)
The truth is revealed
Initially he’s not overly bothered and doesn’t understand Charity’s concerns.
Actor Jeff Hordley shared with us that: ‘It’s only Charity that alerts him [Cain] to this and slowly but surely there are a few little pointers’. So, Cain had no idea anything was up, but Charity slowly helps him see.
When he too fails to get hold of his little sister, that quizzical eyebrow of his gets raised.
Charity’s anxiety increases when she learns Belle has been missing her mental health appointments and between them, Charity and Cain decide it’s time to go extreme, and they break into Tom and Belle’s cottage.
![Cain and Charity arrive in a trashed cottage in Emmerdale](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/23_07_emm_cain_charity_01-caad.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=540%2C357)
‘They go round to the house and break in and he sees lots of red flags dotted around the house such as cameras and all kinds of security things that make them think,’ Jeff adds. To cap it off, they realise Belle’s mobile has been dumped.
After a good rummage they find Tom’s book containing the address of the cottage. With no other choice, they decide to go looking for them, although Cain is still sceptical.
Jeff explains: ‘Even when Cain’s driving there he’s still like, ‘I’m still not 100% sure whether we’re going to turn up here and they’re going to be really happy and like, what are you doing here?’”.
![Tom and Belle hugging outside a cottage in Wales in Emmerdale](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/24_07_emm_belle_tom_01-1dc1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=540%2C360)
But then if he was on the fence, his arrival in Wales will force him to pick a side.
They arrive in Wales and discover an absolute horror scene. The cottage is trashed, the walls are smeared with blood, and the young couple are nowhere to be found.
A flashback reveals what happened, with things beginning on a calm foot as the pair arrive on holiday. Belle seems loved up and happy to be away, but it’s not long before Tom turns on the manipulations.
Without her phone, Belle feels cut off from the world, but Tom is not in the mood to listen.
The moment things take a turn is revealed as Belle discovering Tom taking a secret call arranging to stay in the cottage for longer. Things turn sour and it becomes clear Charity and Cain have realised that something is amiss far too late.
But the big question is, whose blood is on the walls? It’s easy to think it’s Belle’s, but could that be the blood of wounds inflicted in self defence?
Emma hinted that all might not be as it seems: ‘I think we immediately fear for her safety, because why wouldn’t we? We know that she’s gone away and she’s missing and there’s no one in the house when we get there, we see blood. We immediately assume Belle is in real trouble.’
So, whose blood is smeared all over the cottage?