The following article contains discussion of coercive control and physical abuse.
Hollyoaks spoilers follow for Wednesday's streaming episode, which airs Thursday on E4.
Hollyoaks has aired some upsetting scenes tonight (November 29), as Romeo Nightingale attacked Peri Lomax.
The duo — and all of their friends — have been struggling to carry on with life after the death of Rayne Royce, with the constant police questioning, trials by social media and new revelations.
Related: Hollyoaks' Mercedes McQueen to make mystery phone call before disappearing
In tonight's episode, the release of a new conspiracy theory started to get to Peri. She then found her relationship with Romeo, who is the brother of Peri's late partner Juliet and was Rayne's boyfriend until her death, being questioned in an online counselling session.
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"Every time I start to feel normal, it's like [Rayne's] still tormenting us. She's all over everything," Peri admitted as flashbacks played. "I feel like she's haunting me, trying to make me feel guilty."
Peri then started to have a panic attack and ended the counselling session.
Romeo tried to comfort Peri, but Prince and Hunter McQueen soon came in and tried to push her to talk more about what went on around the time of Rayne's death. "I don't wanna talk about it. I'm sick of Rayne," Peri said as she stormed out.
Related: Hollyoaks to revisit James Nightingale's past in Lucas story
Despite everything that happened, a chat with mum Leela had Peri convinced that she did want to carry things on with Romeo, and she went to his to stay over.
However, in the night, Romeo woke up and began sleepwalking. He looked at Peri sleeping in bed and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her violently.
"Rayne! Why do you hate me?" he screamed at Peri — referring to the physical abuse Rayne put him through — before Peri managed to snap him out of it.
Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
Read more Hollyoaks spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Organisations including The Mankind Initiative (www.mankind.org.uk) provide support and advice to men experiencing domestic abuse or coercive control. The helpline is open weekdays between 10am and 4pm, is 01823 334244.
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, organisations including Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk) and Women's Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk) can provide further support and information. The 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247. The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text LOVEIS to 22522.
