Salem descends into full-blown nightmare territory this week on Days of Our Lives as a shocking family betrayal explodes into a life-or-death struggle inside the DiMera family crypt. Long-buried resentments, dangerous secrets, and one villain’s twisted sense of justice collide in an episode that may permanently change the DiMera dynasty.

After weeks of mounting suspicion, the truth finally clawed its way out of the shadows: Peter Blake is the mastermind behind the DiMera kidnappings. The long-absent brother, presumed by many to be little more than a ghost from Salem’s past, revealed himself as the architect of the family’s living nightmare—drugging, abducting, and imprisoning Kristen DiMera, Chad DiMera, Tony DiMera, EJ DiMera, and Theo Carver in the DiMera mausoleum.

The revelation lands like a thunderbolt. Peter’s return was suspicious enough, but his elaborate deception—including faking his own kidnapping after EJ was taken—confirmed just how far gone he truly is. This is not a man seeking reconciliation. This is a man seeking punishment.

A Family Trapped With Its Own Worst Enemy

Tensions ignite the moment Tony and EJ enter the crypt and find Peter calmly standing among them, playing the role of yet another victim. Tony, ever the strategist, immediately questions the odds. Why would a kidnapper go to the trouble of tracking down Peter Blake—a man who has been off the grid for over a decade—unless Peter himself was part of the plot?

Before answers can surface, the situation worsens. Kristen, already injured and feverish, grows increasingly desperate, clawing at the walls in a frantic attempt to escape. Her infection worsens by the minute, pushing her body to the brink. EJ, despite his long history of moral gray areas, shows genuine concern, offering to cool Kristen’s fever with what little they have.

That’s when Peter snaps.

In a chilling pivot, Peter turns on EJ, accusing him of orchestrating the kidnappings. The accusation isn’t entirely baseless—EJ’s reputation for betrayal precedes him—but the timing is far too convenient. Peter dredges up old wounds, reminding Chad of EJ’s affair with Abigail, deliberately reopening scars that never fully healed. Chad admits the truth: he never forgave EJ, but this is not the time or place for vengeance.

Tony tries to restore order, urging the family to unite. But Peter isn’t interested in unity. He launches into a venomous monologue, comparing EJ to their infamous father, Stefano DiMera—a comparison designed to inflame, distract, and divide.

Kristen and Theo Connect the Dots

Kristen, even in her weakened state, has a moment of clarity. She recognizes a familiar pattern in Peter’s behavior: his lifelong tendency to blame everyone else when his plans fail. Theo picks up on it too. Together, they realize the horrifying truth—Peter isn’t just manipulating them emotionally. He is deliberately pitting them against one another to cover his tracks.

Theo demands proof and insists Peter empty his pockets. After all, every one of them was stripped of phones, weapons, and personal items before being dumped into the crypt. Peter’s resistance only fuels suspicion.

When Tony and EJ threaten to force the issue, chaos erupts. Theo lunges. Peter reacts instinctively—and violently—throwing his nephew to the ground. Theo’s head slams into a stone urn. He collapses, unconscious and bleeding.

The crypt falls silent.

Theo’s injury shifts the stakes instantly. Now they aren’t just captives—they are witnesses to attempted murder.

A Deadly Confession and a Weapon of Mass Destruction

Cornered, Peter finally drops the act. Yes, he admits, he did this. And he isn’t finished.

Peter reveals the ultimate horror: a vial of sarin gas. The real-world nerve agent, banned and notorious for its lethality, becomes his final bargaining chip. Even minimal exposure can cause respiratory failure, convulsions, and death. The amount Peter possesses could kill everyone in the crypt.

The irony is suffocating. Peter threatens to release a gas that would kill him too—but logic has long since abandoned him. Fueled by rage, resentment, and a warped sense of justice, Peter seems willing to die as long as his family suffers.

Meanwhile, the captives are weakening. They are cold, exhausted, malnourished, and injured. Theo lies motionless. Kristen’s infection rages. Tony’s age puts him at further risk. Chad and EJ, though physically stronger, are running out of time.

The Fallout We Know—and the Violence We Don’t

Spoilers confirm that by Christmas, some of Salem’s most powerful figures will be free. EJ reunites with Johnny. Tony returns home safely. Chad finds his way back to his children. But survival does not mean unscathed.

Theo is later seen hospitalized, Abe at his bedside, praying for his son’s recovery. Whether Theo’s condition stems solely from his head injury or possible exposure to sarin remains unclear—but the damage is severe.

Kristen, too, ends up at University Hospital, battling a dangerous infection. In a moment that speaks volumes about their twisted bond, she visits Peter—also hospitalized—and asks for his forgiveness. His response is pure fury. Peter screams at her to leave, consumed by betrayal.

Did Kristen Take Peter Down?

One question looms large: how did Peter end up in that hospital bed?

All signs point to a final confrontation in the crypt—and Kristen may have been at the center of it. Weak, infected, and underestimated, Kristen could have been the one person Peter never saw as a true threat. Yet Kristen DiMera has never needed physical strength to be dangerous. She has proven time and again she will do anything for her daughter Rachel—and survival.

A struggle over the sarin vial is not just possible—it feels inevitable. Whether Kristen intentionally uses it against Peter or accidentally exposes him during a fight, the outcome could be the same: Peter breathing in the very poison he intended for others.

If exposed, Peter would face a terrifying fate—respiratory collapse, convulsions, and death without immediate treatment. And if Kristen played a role? The moral gray area would haunt her forever.

A Villain Without an Endgame

Peter Blake’s motivations remain murky. Killing EJ alone would never secure his revenge. To truly inherit the DiMera empire, he would have to eliminate children, spouses, entire bloodlines. The sheer scale of the plan raises one final question: was this ever about power—or was it about pain?

As Days of Our Lives barrels toward its holiday episodes, one thing is certain: the DiMera family will never be the same. The crypt may open, but the scars left behind will linger long after the doors unlock.