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During the bulk of the fifth and final season of *Stranger Things*, Holly Wheeler and Max Mayfield are imprisoned within a psychic prison forged from the memories of Henry Creel. The search for freedom in the pivotal sixth episode leads them to experience a defining event from Henry's youth—a moment that could contain the means to overcome him permanently.

Editor's Note: This article contains major spoilers for the second part of the final season.

A Journey Into the Tunnel

When she finds Max in the world known as Camazotz, it becomes clear she is sheltering in a cave that Henry is terrified of. By leaving the lens cap on a viewing device pilfered from Henry's old home allows Holly to realize that the true terror lies outside of the cave. By aligning her view through the cap, she and Max plummet into a abandoned tunnel.

There, they witness a child version of Henry encounter an wounded, fearful individual. When Henry tries to help, the man fires a gun, striking Henry in the hand. Fighting for his life, Henry ends the threat with a rock. "Did this make Henry evil?" Holly asks tearfully. Essentially, yes, but the act involved more than a defensive killing.

In keeping with mysteries of the final season, the truth about the encounter was first explored the stage play the prequel play.

The Philadelphia Experiment and Stolen Research

This backstory explains the 1943 event, which transported a U.S. Navy ship into a plane later called the Abyss. It faced creatures, and the only one to return was the captain, who emerged in a catatonic condition with an entirely new blood.

That survivor's offspring, Martin Brenner, wanted to repeat this phenomenon in Nevada. One of his scientists stole research materials to sell to the Soviets, who were eager to begin their version of the tests. That traitor in the tunnel is that employee.

The Briefcase's Contents

Given what is understood of his research, the briefcase almost certainly contained vials of the unique blood type. At that moment, Henry is already bleeding. He likely becomes contaminated upon opening the case, which triggered the awakening of his powers—powers he would genetically impart to the kids in Hawkins Lab.

Alternatively, the container could have held exotic matter that was destined to travel to the secret facility, where it helps stabilize the mirror dimension. The stage play explains that Henry was transported in the Abyss, coming back after half a day fundamentally changed. As a youth, he fights the whispers of a dark entity, reminiscent of how Will was controlled by the Mind Flayer in season 2.

A Weaponized Emotion

Henry's enduring terror associated with the mine highlights how utterly horrifying the encounter was for him. While he commands the army of monsters and works to collapse the Abyss into Hawkins, a part of him still exists. Vecna uses fear, and the show is setting up a showdown between him and Will, who has confronted his own deepest fears to fortify himself.

His confrontation has taken a weapon from Vecna. Furthermore, Will now knows what his enemy truly fears, and this may grant a decisive edge in the series finale ahead.