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Throughout a large portion of the fifth and final season of *Stranger Things*, Holly Wheeler and Max Mayfield are imprisoned in a realm of memories constructed from the past of the villain Henry. Their mission for a way out in episode 6 leads them to relive a traumatic incident from Henry's youth—a discovery that may just hold the key to defeating him for good.

Editor's Note: The following details significant events for the second part of the final season.

Unearthing the Secrets of the Tunnel

Upon meeting Max in the world known as Camazotz, Max reveals she is hiding out in a chamber that Henry avoids at all costs. An accidental discovery a telescope found in Henry's old home helps Holly understand that the true terror lies outside of the cave. Matching her view through the cap, she and Max suddenly fall into a subterranean passage.

They watch a young, eight-year-old Henry come across an wounded, fearful individual. Attempting assistance, the man fires a gun, striking Henry in the hand. In a desperate act of self-defense, Henry kills the man with a rock. "Did this make Henry evil?" Holly wonders aloud. It was a factor, but the act wasn't just a defensive killing.

Similar to other plot points in volume 2, the full story behind the mine shaft incident was first explored the theatrical production The First Shadow.

The Philadelphia Experiment and Stolen Research

This backstory explains the infamous Philadelphia Experiment, which reportedly teleported a vessel into a realm later called the Abyss. The ship was attacked, and the sole survivor was the captain, who returned in a unresponsive state with an entirely new blood.

That survivor's offspring, Martin Brenner, attempted to recreate this phenomenon in the Nevada desert. However, a treacherous employee stole research materials to hand over to the Communist spies, who were keen to start their parallel research. This spy in the tunnel is the one who stole the materials.

So, What's in the Case?

Considering what is understood of his research, the case would assuredly have samples of the altered blood. At that moment, Henry is wounded and bleeding. He likely becomes contaminated upon contact with the blood, which triggered the origin of his telekinetic gifts—abilities he would genetically impart to the kids in Hawkins Lab.

A second theory, the box could have held dark matter that eventually found its way to Hawkins Laboratory, where it maintains the stability of the Upside Down. *The First Shadow* reveals that Henry ended up in the Abyss, reappearing 12 hours later fundamentally changed. From then on, he battles the influence of a malevolent force, reminiscent of how Will Byers was controlled by the entity in the past.

A Weaponized Emotion

Henry's enduring terror linked to that memory demonstrates how profoundly traumatic the incident was for him. While he controls the Hive Mind and works to collapse the Abyss into Hawkins, a fragment of his psyche lingers. Fear is his tool, and the show is setting up a showdown between the monster and Will, who has overcome his own deepest fears to gain strength.

This journey has effectively disarmed Vecna. Crucially, Will now understands what Vecna himself fears, and this may grant a key upper hand in the series finale that awaits.