Theo Poulos (played by Matt Evans) and Sonny Baldwin (Ryan Bown) are embroiled in a dangerous predicament, as they become the direct targets of the menacing River Boys gang. The gang's ruthless objective is to prevent Theo and Sonny from testifying in court against their fellow gang member, Gage Reynolds. This escalating threat follows a previous brutal assault by Gage, who left Theo bleeding after attempting to crush him with his own car. Now, with Theo and Sonny stranded in a remote area, the River Boys are determined to ensure they never live to recount their story.

The perilous journey to court takes a turn for the worse when Theo and Sonny, accompanied by their girlfriends Lacey Miller (Sophea Pennington) and Dana Matheson (Ally Harris), are ambushed. A fallen tree strategically blocks the road, allowing the River Boys to hijack their security van. After violently overpowering the bodyguards, the gang sets their sights on the key witnesses, Theo and Sonny. While Dana and Lacey are abandoned on the roadside, news quickly reaches Summer Bay that Theo and Sonny have failed to arrive at court, casting a shadow over Gage's impending trial and raising urgent concerns about their survival.

Meanwhile, Leah Patterson (Ada Nicodemou) and her husband, Justin Morgan (James Stewart), are consumed with anxiety over Theo’s disappearance. They rush to Yabbie Creek Police Station seeking updates on her nephew’s whereabouts. There, Leah’s fears turn to anger as she confronts Lacey Miller, who has been collaborating with police officer Cash Newman (Nicholas Cartwright) in the efforts to put Gage behind bars. Leah vehemently blames Lacey for Theo’s latest harrowing ordeal at the hands of the River Boys, leading to a tense and emotional confrontation amidst the ongoing crisis. The community watches on, hoping against hope that Theo and Sonny will make it out alive.

In lighter news, but not without its own complexities, Cash Newman and Eden Fowler (Stephanie Panozzo) are celebrating their engagement, having become betrothed for a second time during a romantic trip to visit Cash's foster father, Gary. Their neighbour, John Palmer (Shane Withington), wastes no time in proposing himself as their wedding celebrant, eager to be part of their special day. However, Eden’s joy is slightly marred by an unexpected congratulatory text from her estranged father, Jimmy. Still holding resentment towards Jimmy for cheating on her mother Deb years ago, Eden is deeply troubled by how he discovered her engagement news. She immediately suspects one of her siblings, Levi (Tristan Gorey) or Abigail (Hailey Pinto), or perhaps someone else entirely, of having divulged her personal life to the man she wishes to avoid.

Elsewhere in Summer Bay, Mali Hudson (Kyle Shilling) is taken aback to find his girlfriend Abigail Fowler has packed her bags with intentions of moving in with her mother, Deb, for a period. Mali is left confused and concerned, pondering if Abigail's decision is a direct consequence of his previous misstep, which inadvertently revealed her past drug addiction problems to her mother. He questions whether this signifies Abigail's detachment from their relationship and expresses dismay at the possibility of her leaving without a proper goodbye. Mali earnestly tries to convince Abigail to remain in Summer Bay, emphasizing the strong support system available to her after her past struggles, hoping to persuade her to reconsider her sudden departure.

The dynamics between musician Kirby Aramoana (Angelina Thomson) and Remi Carter (Adam Rowland) also face strain. Following a heated studio recording session, Remi voices his concern that Kirby is rushing the production of her solo music, advocating for quality over quantity. Their professional disagreement threatens to impact their friendship, prompting Remi’s girlfriend, Bree Cameron (Juliet Godwin), to consider investigating the underlying reasons for Kirby's apparent spiral and her clash with Remi. Additionally, Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir) and her boyfriend, Levi Fowler, are embarking on a significant journey towards expanding their family, as they consider undergoing fertility tests in their quest to get pregnant.