Salem is no stranger to chaos, but this coming week redefines terror, betrayal, and family implosion as one of the darkest DiMera secrets claws its way back into the light. Fans expected a holiday filled with warmth, gratitude, and Horton tradition — but instead, the town is plunged into a nightmare no one saw coming.

Because the villain behind the chilling Thanksgiving kidnappings is not André, not Stefan, not some random DiMera henchman.

It’s Peter Blake — the long-buried, long-feared DiMera adoptee whose legacy is steeped in obsession, cruelty, and betrayal. And this time… he isn’t hiding in the shadows.

He’s come home with a plan.

And Salem will never forget what he does next.

⭐ THE THANKSGIVING TRAGEDY — AN EMPTY CHAIR, A TERRIFYING REALIZATION

Thanksgiving in Salem usually means love, stories, and the famous Horton ornament tradition. But this year, an empty seat at the table becomes the first sign that something is terribly wrong.

Chad DiMera is missing.

Julie, with her lifetime of surviving Salem disasters, senses the unease instantly. She leaves a heartfelt voicemail urging Chad to join them — imagining him laughing with Thomas and Charlotte. But as hours pass, worry curdles into fear.

Then comes the text message.

Short. Cold. Wrong.

Not Chad.

Julie’s instincts scream what the family refuses to say:
Chad didn’t choose to stay away. Something took him.

And deep below the DiMera mansion… she’s right.

⭐ THE CRYPT OF TERROR — CHAD, TONY, KRISTEN & THEO TRAPPED UNDERGROUND

Far beneath the DiMera estate lies a tomb of secrets: the crypt — never a good sign in Salem history. But this time, the danger is unthinkable.

Chad wakes up first. Confused. Bruised. Locked in a stone chamber.
Then Tony appears, always calm but visibly shaken.
Then Kristen — furious, frightened, combative.
And finally Theo Carver, dragged in wide-eyed and trembling, snatched from the street before a date with Jada.

Four DiMeras.
One crypt.
No exit.

And then, the real horror: scattered human bones in a corner of the chamber.

Who were they? A DiMera enemy? A failed experiment? A message?

The prisoners don’t know — but fans do:

This is Peter Blake’s calling card.

⭐ THEO’S KIDNAPPING IGNITES SALEM — ABE & JADA SOUND THE ALARM

Theo’s disappearance hits hardest.
Abe Carver, both mayor and devoted father, instantly senses danger. Jada, who knows Theo’s kindness firsthand, refuses to believe he ghosted her.

Within hours, Salem PD erupts into urgent motion.

But they’re already too late.
Peter has his “collection” complete.

And nobody knows why.

⭐ THE VILLAIN REVEALED — PETER BLAKE RETURNS WITH DEADLIER INTENTIONS

For years, Peter Blake’s name haunted DiMera lore:
Kristen’s adoptive brother
Stefano’s twisted protégé
The man whose crimes scarred Jennifer Horton
The ghost who lingered even after prison and exile

But now — he’s returned.

Recast with veteran actor Dan Gauthier, Peter’s comeback is poised to explode across Salem. In a recent interview, Gauthier revealed he deliberately avoided rewatching old episodes:

“I took what was on the page and ran with it.”

Translation:
This Peter is new.
Harder.
Smarter.
More dangerous.

A dark evolution created by years behind bars.

And his target?
The entire DiMera dynasty.

⭐ WHY THESE FOUR? PETER’S CALCULATED REVENGE

Peter’s kidnappings aren’t random. They’re chess moves.

🔹 Chad — the DiMera with a conscience

A threat to Peter’s vision of reclaiming the family empire.

🔹 Tony — the moral compass

Removing him clears Peter’s path to seize control.

🔹 Kristen — his sister… and his betrayer

Why she’s kneeling and sobbing in the preview?
Because Peter’s back for retribution only a DiMera sibling could deliver.

🔹 Theo — the innocent pawn

Kidnapped not for revenge, but leverage.
A message to Abe.
A warning to the world.

Peter isn’t merely kidnapping them — he’s breaking them.

And those bones in the crypt?
A reminder of what happens to people who cross him.

⭐ KRISTEN BREAKS DOWN — THE SIBLING REUNION FROM HELL

In a preview clip, Kristen collapses to her knees in a hospital hallway, begging a shadowy figure for forgiveness. Fans speculate — and spoilers confirm:

She’s pleading with Peter.

Their sibling bond has always been forged in twisted loyalty and shared trauma.
But something happened in the past.
Something devastating.

And Kristen knows Peter hasn’t forgotten.

⭐ THE DIMERA WAR ERUPTS — CORPORATE CHAOS, OLD BONES, NEW BETRAYALS

With EJ and Stefan already locked in a power struggle, Peter swoops in like a wolf smelling blood.

His plan appears threefold:

1. Destroy the current DiMera hierarchy by removing key players.
2. Expose long-buried skeletons — literally — to fracture the family.
3. Seize DiMera Enterprises while everyone is panicking.

Classic DiMera strategy.
But upgraded.

Peter won’t be sticking around forever, according to reports, meaning his arc will be short, sharp, and explosive.

Expect tragedies.
Expect twists.
Expect a body count.

⭐ PART TWO: SALEM’S OTHER STORM — LOVE, SECRETS & MISUNDERSTANDINGS

While the DiMeras face doom underground, Salem continues its tangled emotional dance aboveground.

⭐ Steve & Kayla: A Date Interrupted

A bouquet.
A misunderstanding.
Kayla jumps to conclusions when she thinks Xander is bringing flowers to Sarah, leading to hurt feelings and humiliation.

⭐ Gabi & Philip: A First Date With Real Stakes

An innocent drink turns into an emotional gamble when Philip invites Gabi to her family’s Thanksgiving dinner.
Her hesitation speaks volumes — but so does her eventual “yes.”

⭐ Xander’s Concern for Sarah Sparks Trouble

A call from the past, a plea for help, and Philip’s protective instincts reignite old feelings as Sarah’s health becomes a growing concern.

Salem love stories never run smooth — and this week proves it.

⭐ THE VERDICT: A WEEK FANS WILL NEVER FORGET

Kidnappings.
Long-buried villains.
Broken families.
Explosive romantic fallout.
And a DiMera war ready to detonate.

From the crypt to the pub to the hospital halls, next week’s Days of Our Lives delivers maximum drama, emotional devastation, and twists guaranteed to shake Salem to its core.

Peter Blake is back.
And the nightmare is only beginning.