Salem is a town where secrets thrive in the shadowsâand this week, those shadows grow even darker as betrayal, guilt, and twisted loyalty entangle everyone from the police force to the DiMera mansion. As the mystery surrounding Ava Vitaliâs sudden disappearance intensifies, Rafe Hernandez crosses dangerous lines, and Sarah Hortonâs conscience threatens to explode. But the biggest twist of all might involve Chad DiMeraâand a deadly confrontation with none other than Clyde Weston.
Chapter 1: Vanished Without a Trace
Ava Vitali is missingâand not just lying low. She’s gone. No phone calls. No texts. Her apartment stands eerily empty, her vehicle left deserted near the Salem bus station. No ticket purchases, no surveillance footage, not even a whisper. Itâs as if Ava vanished into thin air. Naturally, in Salem, that only means one thingâsomething sinister is going on.
JJ Deveraux, still reeling from the recent chaos stirred up by Clyde Weston, dives headfirst into the search. With Shawn Brady beside him, the duo starts connecting dots, retracing Avaâs movements. Itâs not long before a chilling theory emerges: Did Ava shoot EJ DiMera, ditch the gun, and then disappear before anyone could catch her?
Meanwhile, district attorney Melinda Trask casually drops a bombshellâshe lent a weapon to Ava for âprotection.â With this new detail, suspicion only grows. Did Ava really use that gun on EJ and then make her escape?
Chapter 2: Secrets, Guilt, and a Dangerous Tape
Elsewhere, Sarah Horton finds herself sinking deeper into a well of guilt. The secrets sheâs keeping have started to tear her apart from the inside, especially after the recent drama involving Philip Kiriakis. Despite knowing the truth behind a forged letter that destroyed relationships, Sarah has remained quietâand now her silence is eating her alive.
Xander Kiriakis, furious after learning the truth, lashes out at Philip, driving him out of the house. But his rage only magnifies Sarahâs internal torment. Sheâs tempted to come clean, to finally unburden herself, but fear keeps her lips sealedâfor now.
As if thatâs not enough turmoil, Rafe Hernandez has his own web of deception to navigate. After secretly planting a recording device at the scene of EJâs shooting, Rafe finally retrieves it. Hidden away in his desk for days, he finally presses play.
The audio is roughâstatic, muffled voicesâbut then a scuffle, a gunshot, and the unmistakable sound of Ava arguing with someone. Another faint voice, eerily familiar, filters inâGabby Hernandez. Rafeâs heart races. Could Gabby have been there? Could she have witnessedâor worse, participated inâthe shooting?
And now he has to choose: Does he turn over the tape and risk implicating Gabby? Or does he keep it hidden to protect her?
Chapter 3: The Lie to Gabby & Emotional Crossroads
Later that day, Gabby swings by Rafeâs place. Sheâs sharp, suspicious, and quick to call him out. âSince when do you scroll through Doom for fun?â she teases, referring to a flimsy excuse Rafe gave earlier. He plays along, brushing off her concerns. But underneath, heâs spinning.
Gabby vents about JJâs recent accusations, frustrated that he seems determined to point fingers without evidence. Rafe nearly confesses about the recording, about what he heardâbut stops short. Instead, he dodges the truth and shifts the conversation to safer topics.
He convinces himself itâs for her own protection. But in Salem, good intentions often pave the road to disaster.
Chapter 4: EJ Wakes Up â But Can He Be Trusted?
Back at the hospital, EJ DiMera lies unconscious, clinging to life after being shot. Doctors have placed him in a medically induced coma, and itâs still uncertain whether heâll recover.
But spoilers confirm that EJ will eventually regain consciousnessâand when he does, heâll have a story to tell. The big question is: Will he tell the truth?
There are rumors EJ may suffer from memory lossâeither due to the trauma or, intriguingly, a possible dose of the experimental memory-altering drug thatâs made its rounds in Salem before. If his memory is compromised, EJ might accidentally point the finger at the wrong person. Worse, he could intentionally lie.
One theory? EJ might suspectâor even rememberâthat his own son Johnny pulled the trigger. Rather than destroy his family, he could choose to protect Johnny by accusing someone else, like Gabby or even Chad DiMera.
Chapter 5: Clyde Strikes Again?
Just when Salem thought things couldn’t get worse, Clyde Weston reappears in the shadows. Word spreads that he may be connected not only to Ava’s disappearance but to a new, more tragic eventâChad DiMeraâs possible death.
Rumors are flying that Chad was last seen following a trail that could expose the truth about Ava and the shooting. Now, sources say Clyde may have intercepted himâleading to a deadly showdown.
Could Chad have uncovered too much? Did he pay the ultimate price for chasing justice? Or could this be another of Clydeâs twisted manipulations?
The Final Twist: Truth vs. Survival
As all the pieces fall into place, the residents of Salem are poised on the edge of a storm. Secrets can only stay buried for so long. Rafeâs hidden recording could change everything. Sarahâs guilt could break her. EJâs awakening might either solve the mysteryâor send it spinning in the wrong direction.
And if Clyde Weston did murder Chad DiMera? Salem may never be the same again.
Stay tuned for more jaw-dropping twistsâbecause in Days of Our Lives, no one is ever truly safe.