Salem has survived kidnappers, cults, serial killers, haunted mansions, and criminal masterminds — but nothing compares to the silent, calculated threat now stalking the DiMera family. One by one, members of the powerful dynasty are disappearing without a trace, and the terror ripples through the town like a chilling fog. At the center of this storm stands Chanel Dupree-DiMera, a young mother whose world is shrinking with every missing relative. She is terrified — not only for herself, but for her husband Johnny and their baby son Trey, who may become the next targets of this escalating nightmare.

What began as a distant fear has transformed into a living nightmare for Chanel. She watches DiMera relatives vanish in the blink of an eye — Chad gone without explanation, Tony missing before breakfast, and now troubling whispers of other disappearances. Every empty chair at the family table feels like a warning. Every unanswered phone call tightens the knot in her stomach. She forces a smile for her baby, but her heart pounds with fear every time Johnny walks out the door. The thought of Trey growing up without a father shakes her to her core. Chanel checks her messages obsessively, jumping at every unexpected sound, unable to shake the feeling that danger is lurking just outside her home.

Desperate for comfort, Chanel turns to the one person she believes can help: her mother, Paulina Price. She storms into the mayor’s office, barely holding herself together as she spills her fears — that Johnny might be next, that Trey could be taken, that her life is about to crumble. Paulina does what any mother would do: she wraps Chanel in a fierce embrace and promises to move heaven and earth to protect them. “I won’t let anything happen to my family,” she vows. “Not on my watch.” But even Paulina knows the truth behind her bold words — Salem’s police force is stretched thin, the FBI is overwhelmed, and there simply aren’t enough officers to guard every DiMera in danger.

When Paulina reaches out to the authorities, she gets the answer she dreaded: there are no available officers for private protection without direct evidence of immediate threat. The police are already drowning in missing persons cases, and the number grows each day. Chanel feels utterly abandoned by the system that is supposed to safeguard its citizens. How could so many disappear, yet protection remains out of reach?

Just when the darkness feels overwhelming, an unlikely source steps forward — EJ DiMera. Say what you want about EJ, but when his family is threatened, he acts swiftly and ruthlessly. With law enforcement failing, EJ deploys his own private security force — elite professionals with specialized training, high-tech equipment, and no bureaucratic limitations. Within hours, guards surround Johnny and Chanel’s home, surveillance systems are quietly installed, and Trey’s safety becomes a top priority. EJ may be a complicated man, but protecting his bloodline is something he does without hesitation.

Chanel is relieved, but only partially. The security presence transforms her everyday life into something suffocating. Neighbors whisper. Strangers stare. She can’t take Trey for a simple walk without alerting guards. And worst of all, Johnny struggles with the idea of relying on EJ’s help — a father whose support always comes with strings attached. Is this protection… or surveillance? Johnny can’t shake the suspicion that EJ is using the crisis to wedge himself deeper into their lives.

While the DiMeras fight to stay safe, another chilling chapter unfolds elsewhere in Salem — one that proves the threat is spreading faster than anyone realized.

The latest disappearance strikes too close to home: Theo Carver. The episode opens peacefully enough with Abe and Paulina trying everything to soothe baby Trey. In a moment of exasperation, Abe decides to call Theo for help. The phone rings — but instead of Theo’s reassuring voice, Abe hears a strange sound and then silence. The call drops. Abe dismisses it as a bad signal, but the viewers already know the awful truth: something has happened to Theo.

Meanwhile, Jada arrives at Brady’s Pub, chatting casually with Gabi, offering the audience a temporary breath of normal life. But that moment shatters when Philip walks in and Jada realizes Theo, who should have been nearby, is nowhere to be found. Her phone buzzes again — this time with news that Chad has also been reported missing. The pattern is undeniable. Something is hunting Salem residents connected to the DiMeras.

Outside the pub, Jada discovers something that turns her blood cold: Theo’s phone lying abandoned on the ground. Not a struggle. Not a witness. Just the faintest echo of a life interrupted. She immediately contacts Abe, who races to the police station, panic overriding reason. Jada shares the horrible truth: Theo didn’t wander off; he vanished like the others.

Abe breaks down in frustration as Jada explores possible motives. One possibility stands out — perhaps Theo was taken by someone he trusted. Salem has a long history of friendly faces masking dark intentions, and the Carver family knows betrayal all too well. Abe’s mind turns to the DiMera legacy. He wonders whether EJ is withholding information… or whether EJ himself is a target. Either way, the DiMera name keeps emerging in every conversation, and that cannot be ignored.

Back inside the pub, Gabi and Philip piece together what the audience already suspects. Theo, Chad, Tony — all gone. The disappearances are connected, orchestrated, and advancing swiftly. Salem is facing a threat far bigger than it understands, and the DiMeras are at the center of the storm.

The episode builds suspense slowly, with dropped calls, silent phones, and small unsettling details that linger long after the scene shifts. The fear is subtle but suffocating — the kind that creeps into your bones. For longtime viewers, Theo’s disappearance is particularly painful. We have watched him grow, stumble, love, and rebuild after heartbreak. Losing him would break the Carver family in ways that feel too real.

By the end of the episode, the cracks in Salem’s facade have widened into a terrifying abyss. Chanel clings to her baby while EJ’s security surrounds her home. Johnny fights the growing dread that he might be next. Abe and Paulina brace themselves for the long, agonizing wait for answers. And Salem itself stands on edge, its residents whispering and wondering: Who is doing this? Why the DiMeras? How far will it go?

One thing is absolutely clear — the threat is not stopping. The pieces are moving, the tension rising, and the DiMera dynasty is being hunted from the shadows. As Salem braces for what comes next, viewers are left with a single question: