The tension in Salem reaches a breaking point this Wednesday, December 10, as fear, deception, and a chilling pattern of disappearances ripple across town. What begins as a quiet morning quickly spirals into a day of escalating dread, desperate alliances, and terrifying discoveries that may finally expose the mastermind targeting the DiMera and Carver families. Buckle up — today’s update dives deep into every corner of Salem, from the Price-Grant household to the underground tunnels of the DiMera mansion, to Chicago, and back into the hearts and minds of the town’s most vulnerable residents.

Inside the Price-Grant home, Chanel Dupree is unraveling. The anxiety she’s carrying isn’t just worry — it’s a bone-deep terror that tightens her chest and steals her breath. Theo Carver’s sudden disappearance is eating her alive. Every hour of silence feels like another nail in the coffin of hope. Chanel paces the living room floor, phone in hand, desperate for a call, a text, any sign that Theo is safe. But the more time passes, the more she fears what she refuses to say aloud: the curse surrounding the DiMera and Carver families is far from over, and the next name on the kidnapper’s list might be her husband, Johnny.

Paulina Price tries her best to steady her daughter, but even she can’t mask the tightness in her voice. She insists that Theo is fine, probably off the grid on business, maybe even taking a break — but the truth flickers in her eyes. Paulina knows Salem’s bloody history, and she knows disappearances tied to the DiMeras almost never end cleanly. Behind every comforting word, she’s already strategizing: who to call, what resources to mobilize, and how to safeguard Johnny before the storm swallows him too.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in Chicago, another storyline twists in an unexpected direction. Alex Kiriakis, who should be enjoying a triumphant book tour, finds himself thrust into a dangerous investigation. Steve “Patch” Johnson has uncovered disturbing messages hidden within Alex’s fan mail — coded threats drenched in obsession, all pointing toward Stephanie Johnson as the intended target. It’s a discovery that sends Alex into protective high alert. His lingering feelings for Stephanie ignite, and he drops the author persona to track down whoever is stalking her. Suspicion quickly shifts toward Jeremy Horton, whose shaky behavior and mysterious disappearances make him an easy focal point. But whether Jeremy is truly guilty or just another pawn remains the question Alex and Steve aim to answer — even if it means turning the book tour into a manhunt.

Back in Salem, emotional storms are brewing inside the Kiriakis mansion. Brady Black and Sarah Horton find unexpected solace in each other as they bond over the unraveling lives of their children. Sarah views Rachel Black’s explosive behavior through the eyes of both a mother and a doctor — she sees trauma, instability, and deep psychological wounds rather than simple rebellion. Brady, weighed down by his daughter’s spiraling emotions, reveals a major shift: he and Sarah will be living under the same roof. Though practical on the surface, the decision sets off a chain reaction. Xander Cook, fueled by jealousy and insecurity, will see their cohabitation as a threat, a betrayal, and perhaps even a declaration of war. The fragile peace between the three adults is destined to shatter.

Even more troubling is the dark bond forming between Rachel Black and Sophia Choi. Their relationship has twisted into something dangerous — a mentorship centered on manipulation and deceit. Sophia’s influence is growing stronger by the day, and she appears to be guiding Rachel toward actions meant to hurt Tate Black or even destroy his reputation. But that may only be the beginning. There are whispers that Sophia is coaching Rachel to orchestrate something even more sinister — a scheme that could threaten Johnny DiMera’s connection to a child in his life. Rachel, angry, traumatized, and desperate for control, is becoming a tool in Sophia’s hands, and the consequences could be catastrophic.

Meanwhile, Tate Black, overwhelmed by the weight of the secret he’s carrying, turns to Holly Jonas for support. He fears Rachel is headed down a dangerous path — and Sophia is helping pave the way. Confiding in Holly is both a relief and a burden, because now she too becomes entangled in a web of secrets that could shatter multiple families. Tate knows that speaking out risks destroying his bond with Rachel, but staying silent might allow a far worse disaster to unfold.

As Salem’s emotional landscapes crumble, a darker crisis is brewing beneath the surface — one that shakes the entire DiMera empire. At the mansion, Cat reels from the events of the previous night. Still rattled from knocking EJ unconscious to prevent him from stumbling into danger, she follows her instincts deeper into the estate. Realizing the living room holds no secrets, she heads for the underground tunnels — the shadowy labyrinth where the DiMera family has hidden sins for generations.

Inside the wine cellar, Cat makes a terrifying discovery: a folding bed nestled against the stone wall, the sheets still warm, the faint scent of a man lingering. Someone has been living here — hiding, watching, waiting. She documents everything, taking photos as quickly as her trembling hands allow. But when she returns upstairs to check on EJ, she finds him awake, disoriented, and unaware he’d been knocked out. Cat tells him the truth: someone is targeting their family, and Theo Carver’s kidnapping may only be the beginning.

Across town, Abe and Paulina are trying to soothe baby Trey when Abe calls Theo for help — only to have the call go dead. Unknown to him, Theo is being abducted only steps away. A silent struggle, a quick snatch, and he vanishes into the night. Abe initially assumes it’s a dropped call, but minutes later, Jada discovers Theo’s shattered phone on the sidewalk, the last message incomplete, as if he was grabbed mid-sentence. When Abe learns the truth, he races to the police station, where Jada informs him that Theo isn’t the only one missing — Chad DiMera has disappeared as well. Layer by layer, the pattern becomes undeniable. The FBI is called in. Rafe joins the investigation. Salem finally acknowledges what the DiMeras have known all along: this is a coordinated attack.

While panic spreads, Cat returns to the mansion, sensing she missed something critical. In the wine room she finds it — a scrap of dark fabric snagged on the edge of the folding bed. Not DiMera clothing. Not familiar. But hauntingly similar to something she remembers from a past case. She pockets the clue, knowing it could be the first crack in the kidnapper’s armor.

As Salem’s fear deepens, the town falls into a grim rhythm: locked doors, hushed conversations, suspicious glances at strangers. An invisible puppeteer is stalking the city, pulling strings and dismantling the DiMera line one name at a time. The mystery grows more chilling by the minute.

And by sundown, one question echoes louder than the rest — not just who took Theo Carver…
…but how far will the kidnapper go next?

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