Salem is a town where secrets thrive in the shadows—and 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 Vitali’s sudden disappearance intensifies, Rafe Hernandez crosses dangerous lines, and Sarah Horton’s conscience threatens to explode. But the biggest twist of all might involve Chad DiMera—and a deadly confrontation with none other than Clyde Weston.

Chapter 1: Vanished Without a Trace

Ava Vitali is missing—and 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. It’s as if Ava vanished into thin air. Naturally, in Salem, that only means one thing—something 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 Ava’s movements. It’s 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 bombshell—she lent a weapon to Ava for “protection.” 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 she’s 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 quiet—and 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 Sarah’s internal torment. She’s tempted to come clean, to finally unburden herself, but fear keeps her lips sealed—for now.

As if that’s not enough turmoil, Rafe Hernandez has his own web of deception to navigate. After secretly planting a recording device at the scene of EJ’s shooting, Rafe finally retrieves it. Hidden away in his desk for days, he finally presses play.

The audio is rough—static, muffled voices—but then a scuffle, a gunshot, and the unmistakable sound of Ava arguing with someone. Another faint voice, eerily familiar, filters in—Gabby Hernandez. Rafe’s heart races. Could Gabby have been there? Could she have witnessed—or worse, participated in—the 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 Rafe’s place. She’s sharp, suspicious, and quick to call him out. “Since when do you scroll through Doom for fun?” she teases, referring to a flimsy excuse Rafe gave earlier. He plays along, brushing off her concerns. But underneath, he’s spinning.

Gabby vents about JJ’s recent accusations, frustrated that he seems determined to point fingers without evidence. Rafe nearly confesses about the recording, about what he heard—but stops short. Instead, he dodges the truth and shifts the conversation to safer topics.

He convinces himself it’s for her own protection. But in Salem, good intentions often pave the road to disaster.

Chapter 4: EJ Wakes Up — 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 it’s still uncertain whether he’ll recover.

But spoilers confirm that EJ will eventually regain consciousness—and when he does, he’ll have a story to tell. The big question is: Will he tell the truth?

There are rumors EJ may suffer from memory loss—either due to the trauma or, intriguingly, a possible dose of the experimental memory-altering drug that’s 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 suspect—or even remember—that 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 event—Chad DiMera’s 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 him—leading 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 Clyde’s 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. Rafe’s hidden recording could change everything. Sarah’s guilt could break her. EJ’s awakening might either solve the mystery—or 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 twists—because in Days of Our Lives, no one is ever truly safe.