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For much of season 5 of the popular Netflix show, the young Holly Wheeler and Max are imprisoned within a psychic prison forged from the past of Vecna. Their mission for a way out in episode 6 has them experience a traumatic incident from Henry's childhood—a discovery that may just hold the key to defeating him once and for all.

Editor's Note: This discussion contains major spoilers for *Stranger Things* season 5, volume 2.

A Journey Into the Cavern

After locating Max in the world dubbed Camazotz, Holly discovers she is sheltering in a cave that Henry is terrified of. A clever observation a spyglass taken from Henry's old home allows Holly to realize that the true terror lies not within the cave. When she lines up her view through the cap, she and Max suddenly fall into a deep mine shaft.

In this place, they observe a child version of Henry encounter an injured and paranoid man. When Henry tries to help, the man fires a gun, wounding the boy in the hand. To protect himself, Henry strikes the man down with a rock. "Did this make Henry evil?" Holly wonders aloud. The answer is affirmative, but the act went deeper than a fight for life.

Similar to other plot points in volume 2, the significance of the mine shaft incident was first explored the theatrical production the prequel play.

The Philadelphia Experiment and Stolen Research

This backstory explains the 1943 event, which reportedly teleported a U.S. Navy ship into a dimension later called the Abyss. It faced creatures, and the sole survivor was the ship's commander, who emerged in a catatonic condition with an entirely new blood.

That survivor's offspring, a young Martin Brenner, attempted to recreate this dimensional breach in the Nevada desert. But a disloyal lab worker stole research materials to give to the Soviets, who were keen to start their own interdimensional projects. That traitor in the mine shaft is that employee.

The Briefcase's Contents

Based on what is understood of the doctor's experiments, the case almost certainly contained vials of Captain Brenner's infected blood. As shown, Henry is wounded and bleeding. Exposure likely occurred upon handling the contents, leading to the awakening of his powers—abilities he would later pass on to the children in Hawkins Lab.

A second theory, the container could have held dark matter that later made its way to the secret facility, where it helps stabilize the Upside Down. *The First Shadow* reveals that the boy ended up in the Abyss, coming back after half a day with a new blood type and personality. As a youth, he fights the whispers of a dark entity, much like how Will was influenced by the shadow monster in an earlier season.

The Power of Fear

Henry's enduring terror linked to that memory demonstrates how deeply scarring the encounter was for him. While he controls the collective consciousness and attempts to pull the Abyss into Hawkins, a part of him still exists. Fear is his tool, and the show is setting up a climactic battle between the monster and Will, who has confronted his own deepest fears to become stronger.

His confrontation has neutralized a key tactic of Vecna. Crucially, Will now knows what the monster's own weakness, and this may grant a critical advantage in the ultimate battle to come.