"Dean. Dean where are you going?" called Chloe as she hurried along miles behind him, but he was on a mission, so focused that he was mentally blocking her out.
When she didn't drop it and go running back home Dean stopped dead in his tracks and turned round to stare at her like a person possessed. He couldn't drag her into this and she had to return home before she discovered anything. He waited for her to approach him and then took a grip on her holding her at arms length and not letting her come any closer. Dean knew he needed her to return home, to keep her safe because if Nigel thought she knew their secret he'd probably try to kill her too. Nigel would do anything to keep his guilt silenced and Dean wanted no harm to come to his beloved Chloe.
"Please Chloe you must go home" he said looking panicked and licking his lips nervously.
"No, why must I? What's going on Dean?" she asked him, all trust she had for him gone. He had been acting shady now for a few days and she was highly suspicious as she knew he was hiding something. It was what, that was the question?
Dean rolled his eyes and stared at her, sternly repeating himself to depict how serious he was before he let go of her and began again to walk away leaving her idly standing alone in the street. Confused and upset Chloe watched him as he began to walk away again not knowing what exactly she should do. She had many options she supposed but which of them was right. She could follow Dean and find out what was going on for herself, perhaps putting herself in danger, she could return home and tell her parents or she could just ignore it altogether. She stood and pondered over the many thoughts for a while before deciding to follow him, no matter what the risks or implications may be.
At home Beth was clearing away the dishes silently and ignoring Mark as he ranted about Chloe just disappearing like that. He was accusing Beth of not caring, yelling and screaming that she was being so selfish lately and that it was not good of her to behave in such a way. He was frustrated that she still seemed to be punishing him for all that had happened with Becca, the unborn baby and their late son Danny. They didn't talk anymore, discuss how they were feeling or about the baby. She had been for the latest scan alone, insisting that she didn't want him there and just generally shutting him out. It was all beginning to drive him a little bit crazy.
Beth clattered with the dishes in the sink, washing them by hand and not using the dishwasher in an attempt to keep her occupied and stop her mind from wandering. She had so many thoughts on what Mark was saying and she understood, agreed even that perhaps they shouldn't have just let Chloe go running out but she was numb. She didn't show any signs of caring even though she did and she suspected she was becoming depressed. His voice was just a humming now to her as his words just merged into nothing comprehensible until...
"BETH ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?" he screamed.
For some reason this time his shouting at her made something inside her snap. She had put up with weeks of it and it was time for it to stop. She dropped the dish she was holding back into the soapy water and reached for a towel to one side to dry her hands before turning to see him. Mark was angered, he was panting heavily and glaring at his wife waiting for her to answer his question.
"Yeah I am listening to you Mark" she answered in a raised voice rather than shouting. She wanted to come across as firm and in control not emotional and squeaky as she would do should she have retaliated by shouting. "I have been listening to you for weeks now and its boring!" she yelled this time as she stormed out of the kitchen passed him.
He had officially annoyed her enough for her to want to leave. She just couldn't be in that house with him right now. Thundering up the stairs she entered the bedroom and grabbed an overnight bag, throwing in just a few things and then heading out to collect some bits from the bathroom. By this time Mark had made his way upstairs and was waiting for her on the landing. He looked confused as she emerged from the bathroom with a select few toiletries and tried to get back into the bedroom, of which the doorway he was partially blocking.
"Hang on a minute Beth, what are you doing?" He asked.
Beth didn't answer him, she just tried to squeeze passed him but he was quick to stop her by planting a firm grip on both of her arms and he felt her go rigid as he held her. She wouldn't make eye contact with him and there was a long silence before she suddenly screamed for him to let her go. Mark could tell just from her tone that she was annoyed with him and instantly let go. He didn't move though so Beth ended up shoving passed him to go back to the bedroom and chuck the armful of things she was carrying into her bag. That was it, she had everything she needed and now she was going, just to have some space and time on her own. Pulling the bag off of the bed she started going across to the doorway only to find Mark blocking it again.
There was a struggle between them as she tried to get him out of her way and they actually ended up physically shoving each other back and forth until she had managed to get passed him to the top of the stairs. It was as she rushed to get down them aware that Mark was rapidly following behind her in a desperate attempt to stop her leaving. She was only a few steps down the stairs when her foot slipped and she went tumbling down the remaining stairs. Mark couldn't do anything, he just saw it all unfolding before him too quickly and before he even had a chance to try and prevent it. He stilled watching in horror as his pregnant wife landed at the bottom of the stairs, her bag tumbling down after her and landing at her side.
Chloe was stalking Dean and he was oblivious to her presence. He had just assumed she had turned and gone back and so had pressed on to his destination. Chloe hadn't yet worked out where they were heading but she knew the surroundings were familiar, even in the dark. Focused on watching Dean rather than looking where she was going she accidentally kicked a can and had to dart behind a shrub just branching out onto the pathway when Dean's head flew round to investigate.
"Hello?" he called out to see if anyone was actually there and paused for a moment to wait and see.
His voice echoed around as Chloe peeked around to see if he was still looking behind him. She saw that he had a slight trace of fear on his face but put it down to him being alone and walking in the dark. Everyone in Broadchurch was wary of walking around at night since events with Danny even though the killer had been caught. As soon as Dean got moving again Chloe continued to follow until he stopped beside a van with the engine running. It looked familiar but she didn't want to get too close whilst Dean was still on the pavement. He was talking to the Driver and then suddenly he darted in front of the van and Chloe heard the door open. Rushing forward she headed to the back of the van and realising she would need to get in too if she was going to discover what he was up to tried the handle on the back door. Luckily it was unlocked, opening it and hoping not to alert their attention she climbed inside and before she had chance to close the door the van started slowly to move off. Grabbing the door she gently pulled it back towards her knowing that it wouldn't be closed properly but if she left it open there was more of a chance she would be discovered and that wasn't part of her plan.