NEXT WEEK: 3 Shocking Secrets EXPOSED! Salem Shakes in the Dec 19–23 Episodes!
The week of December 19–23, 2025 is gearing up to be one of the most explosive stretches Salem has seen in years. Every storyline collides, long-buried lies surface, relationships crack under pressure, and dangerous new mysteries tighten their grip on the town. From the depths of the Salem catacombs to a terrifying attack in a quiet hotel, no corner of Salem is safe. Three major secrets blast into the open—each one powerful enough to alter the future of an entire family.
If you thought the last few weeks were intense… you haven’t seen anything yet.
A Town on Edge: Salem’s Fear Reaches Breaking Point
The entire community continues to tremble under the weight of a chilling kidnapping spree that has kept families terrified and authorities scrambling. Every resident is on high alert, waiting to see who will be taken next. Children are escorted around town. Doors are kept locked. And for the first time in a long time, Salem feels cold, hollow, and hunted.
But this week, the already-harrowing crisis twists into something far more personal—and much darker.
SECRET #1 — The EJ Bombshell: A Hostage or the Mastermind?
For weeks, the search for missing DiMera family members has led nowhere—until now.
The turning point arrives when Tony, Chad, Theo, and Kristen force themselves deeper into the eerie, maze-like catacombs beneath Salem. These tunnels have always been a place of shadows and nightmares, but what they discover this time shocks them to the core.
There, among the frightened hostages, is EJ DiMera.
The moment his face appears through the dim lighting, the entire group nearly collapses. EJ—the powerful, calculating businessman who always seems three steps ahead—lying there as if he’s been captured like the others. Gasps, panic, anger, and disbelief erupt all at once.
But the relief quickly curdles into suspicion.
Is EJ truly another victim… or is he the puppeteer behind the kidnappings?
Old conversations resurface. His recent shady behaviors come back into focus. His strange interactions with the Carvers suddenly seem more ominous. Kristen, torn between loyalty and distrust, can’t shake the sense that EJ is hiding something monumental.
The DiMera siblings split into factions—some furious at the idea he might be guilty, others terrified he may be telling the truth. The uncertainty is agonizing. Salem hasn’t faced a moral puzzle this twisted in years.
Is EJ a hostage?
Or the puppeteer pulling every string?
The answer threatens to fracture the DiMera family forever.
SECRET #2 — The Hotel Attack: Stephanie & Alex Caught in a Deadly Trap
Just when it seems the kidnapping storyline can’t get more dangerous, Salem is rocked by a second terrifying mystery—one that targets two innocent people with chilling precision.
Stephanie Johnson checks into a small hotel on the outskirts of town, hoping for peace and privacy. But unbeknownst to her, a man dressed in black—gloves, jacket, everything—is watching her every move. His presence is silent, predatory, and deeply unsettling.
Before she can react, Alex Kiriakis shows up unexpectedly. His arrival feels almost fate-driven—two young people meeting privately, unsure where their chemistry will lead. For a split second, it feels like a tender moment is on the horizon.
But then everything explodes into horror.
A mysterious envelope arrives for Stephanie. Alex, wanting to help, opens it—and instantly, a cloud of white powder blasts into the air around them. They choke. They panic. Their eyes burn. Their lungs seize.
This isn’t a prank.
This is a chemical attack.
Questions flood in:
- Was the letter meant to kill Stephanie?
- Was Alex the actual target?
- Is the man in black the same person behind the kidnappings?
- Or is there a second mastermind at work in Salem?
As the powder settles around them like toxic snow, viewers are left wondering whether the couple can survive the attack—and whether this is just the beginning of something far more sinister.
SECRET #3 — A DiMera from the Past Returns: Peter Blake Steps Back Into Salem
Just as the town grapples with two major threats, Salem is blindsided by the return of a character whose history is soaked in DiMera intrigue: Peter Blake.
As Kristen’s biological brother and Stefano DiMera’s adopted son, Peter’s reappearance instantly triggers alarm bells. He carries the legacy—and the darkness—of the DiMera bloodline, and his timing is more than suspicious.
He returns on December 19, right at the height of the kidnapping crisis.
Is he here to help?
Is he connected to the kidnappings?
Or is he a brand-new threat?
Long-time fans remember Peter’s troubled past, his questionable morals, and his ruthless streak. His comeback promises to tangle the DiMera web even further, opening the door to new battles, old wounds, and revelations that could reshape the family’s future.
And some insiders whisper that Peter may hold the key to exposing the kidnapper’s identity—whether he wants to or not.
Leo Stark vs. Gwen Rizczech: A Dangerous Showdown Brews
Leo Stark, never one to stay quiet when leverage is near, corners Gwen demanding the truth about her alliance with EJ. Gwen, slippery as ever, squirms under the pressure.
Leo isn’t buying her excuses.
He knows she’s hiding something big.
And he intends to rip the truth out of her—no matter the fallout.
If Gwen admits she’s working with EJ, everything changes.
If she denies it, Leo will push harder.
Either way, the confrontation is a ticking bomb, threatening to expose links between Gwen, EJ, and the kidnappings.
What Gwen reveals—or hides—may change the course of the entire investigation.
Jada Hunter’s Desperate Search & a Rekindled Flame
While chaos spreads across town, Jada Hunter works around the clock to locate the missing DiMeras. But even she must admit she can’t solve this alone.
Reluctantly, she turns to Rafe Hernandez—a man she once loved, a man she once trusted, and a man whose return to her life reignites a spark neither expected.
Their teamwork is electric.
Their chemistry simmers.
And their shared mission forces them closer with each passing hour.
Will this crisis bring them back together romantically?
Or will old wounds reopen?
Either way, the search for the missing becomes more emotionally charged than ever.
Rachel’s Deception Comes Crashing Down
Another bombshell shakes Salem this week as Rachel’s lies spiral into the light. The exact nature of her deception is tightly guarded, but sources say her actions affect multiple families—and could even tie into the threats surrounding the DiMeras.
When the truth hits, it sends shockwaves through Salem, damaging relationships and shattering trust once thought unbreakable.
Violence Strikes—A Brutal Attack Stuns the Town
As if Salem weren’t already drowning in danger, a violent attack erupts—one brutal enough to leave the victim in critical condition. Details remain hidden, but one thing is clear:
This wasn’t random.
Someone wanted to send a message.
A deadly one.
The question is… who is next?
A Suspicious Phone Call Adds a Final Twist
Just when the week seems packed with enough chaos, another layer of mystery emerges. Someone receives a chilling phone call—cryptic, threatening, and dripping with hidden meaning.
The caller may hold answers.
They may be the next villain.
Or they may be warning Salem about something far worse.
Either way, the call adds yet another twist to a week drowning in danger.
A Week That Changes Everything
From underground prisons to chemical attacks, from resurrected family secrets to rekindled romances, Salem is on the brink of total collapse. The week of December 19–23 is a turning point for Days of Our Lives—one filled with suspense, heartbreak, revelations, and shocking truths.
Who is pulling the strings behind the kidnappings?
Is EJ a victim or the architect of Salem’s suffering?
Does Peter Blake’s return spell salvation—or doom—for the DiMeras?
Will Stephanie and Alex survive?
Will Jada and Rafe’s connection spark again?
And whose blood is spilled in the brutal attack?
Buckle up, Days fans—because Salem is about to erupt.