If crypt is the dark side, then the lab is the black zone. Rafe and Cat dive into investigating DiMera, arguing as they go, because their cooperation is completely mismatched:

Rafe is cautious, like he’s navigating a minefield, while Cat is more like he’s deliberately running straight into a wall to see if it will collapse.

But the more they argue, the more they have to stand together, because Salem needs a raid to unlock the most secret part of DiMera’s family.

And the name that sends shivers down everyone’s spine is Dr. Rolf.

Rolf’s appearance immediately signals: mad science is about to begin, “resurrection – transformation – experimentation” is about to happen, and someone is about to become an unwitting scapegoat. Mark Greene is dragged into this situation. Mark doesn’t have a cold-blooded villain vibe, but he’s being drawn into a system where one wrong move makes him an accomplice. Rolf manipulated Mark with power and fear, forcing him to do things he wouldn’t tell anyone.

The most tense scene was when Rafe knocked on the lab door, identifying himself as an FBI agent, demanding that he open it. Mark stood frozen, as if his lungs were locked. Opening the door would expose Rolf, and Mark would be doomed. Not opening it would arouse Rafe’s suspicion, leading him to kick the door down, making Mark a suspect. This was a typical Salem trap: there were no clean options, only less dirty ones. Cat stood nearby, and the more she urged him, the more panicked Mark became. And in a moment of panic, people often do the stupidest things.