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Throughout a large portion of the fifth and final season of *Stranger Things*, Holly Wheeler and Max Mayfield are imprisoned inside a mental fortress forged from the memories of Henry Creel. Their mission for a way out in the pivotal sixth episode has them witness again a defining event from Henry's early years—a discovery that could contain the key to defeating him permanently.

Spoiler Warning: The following reveals crucial plot points for the second part of the final season.

A Journey Into the Tunnel

After locating Max in the mental landscape dubbed Camazotz, Holly discovers she is sheltering in a chamber that Henry strangely fears. By leaving the lens cap on a viewing device pilfered from Henry's old home lets Holly see that the true terror lies not within the cave. When she lines up her view to the cut-out, she and Max plummet into a subterranean passage.

There, they witness a child version of Henry find an man who is hurt and scared. Attempting assistance, the man panics and shoots, wounding the boy in the hand. To protect himself, Henry kills the man with a rock. "Is this what corrupted him?" Holly questions through tears. It was a factor, but the trauma went deeper than a simple act of survival.

Similar to other plot points this season, the full story behind the encounter is detailed in the theatrical production Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

The Philadelphia Experiment and Stolen Research

The play reveals the infamous Philadelphia Experiment, which transported a U.S. Navy ship into a dimension known as the Abyss. It faced creatures, and the sole survivor was the captain, who came back in a unresponsive state with an entirely new blood.

This man's son, the future Dr. Brenner, wanted to repeat this phenomenon in remote Nevada. One of his scientists pilfered lab samples to sell to the Communist spies, who were desperate to launch their version of the tests. This spy in the cavern is the one who stole the materials.

The Briefcase's Contents

Based on what is known about the doctor's experiments, the briefcase would assuredly have vials of the unique blood type. As shown, Henry is already bleeding. Exposure likely occurred upon handling the contents, causing the development of his psychic abilities—powers he would inadvertently transfer to the test subjects under Brenner's care.

Alternatively, the box could have held exotic matter that was destined to travel to Hawkins Laboratory, where it acts to anchor the Upside Down. The prequel shows that young Henry ended up in the Abyss, returning 12 hours later with a new blood type and personality. Throughout the play, he battles the whispers of a dark entity, reminiscent of how the character Will was controlled by the shadow monster in season 2.

Confronting Terror

Henry's enduring terror associated with the mine highlights how utterly horrifying the encounter was for him. While he orchestrates the collective consciousness and attempts to pull the Abyss into Hawkins, a piece of the scared boy remains. Fear is his tool, and the narrative points to a showdown between Vecna and Will, who has deliberately faced his own deepest fears to fortify himself.

His confrontation has taken a weapon from Vecna. More importantly, Will now is aware of what the monster's own weakness, potentially giving him a decisive edge in the ultimate battle that awaits.