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During the bulk of the fifth and final season of *Stranger Things*, the young Holly Wheeler and Max are held captive in a realm of memories forged from the recollections of Vecna. Their quest for a way out in "Escape from Camazotz" forces them to relive a life-altering moment from Henry's childhood—a moment that may just hold the secret to his downfall permanently.

Editor's Note: The following contains major spoilers for the concluding episodes.

The Discovery in the Tunnel

After locating Max in the psychic realm known as Camazotz, Max reveals she is hiding out in a grotto that Henry strangely fears. An accidental discovery a viewing device taken from Henry's old home lets Holly see that the source of fear lies not within the cave. When she lines up her view with the shape, she and Max plummet into a deep mine shaft.

There, they witness a young, eight-year-old Henry find an man who is hurt and scared. When Henry tries to help, the man reacts violently, wounding the boy in the hand. Fighting for his life, Henry strikes the man down with a rock. "Is this what corrupted him?" Holly asks tearfully. Essentially, yes, but the event went deeper than a defensive killing.

In keeping with mysteries in volume 2, the significance of the events in the tunnel is detailed in the stage play The First Shadow.

A Naval Mystery and Stolen Research

*The First Shadow* opens with the 1943 event, which allegedly sent a U.S. Navy ship into a plane dubbed the Abyss. It faced creatures, and the only one to return was the captain, who came back in a catatonic condition with an altered blood type.

This man's son, Martin Brenner, sought to replicate this dimensional breach in the Nevada desert. However, a treacherous employee stole research materials to give to the Soviets, who were desperate to launch their version of the tests. This spy in the cavern is the one who stole the materials.

Unlocking the Mystery

Based on what is known about the doctor's experiments, the container most likely held some of the altered blood. As shown, Henry is already bleeding. It's probable he was infected upon opening the case, causing the awakening of his powers—powers he would later pass on to the test subjects under Brenner's care.

A second theory, the case could have held exotic matter that eventually found its way to Hawkins Laboratory, where it helps stabilize the mirror dimension. The stage play explains that the boy ended up in the Abyss, coming back 12 hours later fundamentally changed. As a youth, he struggles with the control of a sinister presence, reminiscent of how Will Byers was influenced by the Mind Flayer in the past.

Confronting Terror

The reason Henry avoids the cave of that cave shows how deeply scarring the incident was for him. Even as he commands the army of monsters and seeks to merge the Abyss into Hawkins, a piece of the scared boy remains. Vecna uses fear, and the series is building toward a showdown between him and Will, who has overcome his greatest terrors to gain strength.

His confrontation has effectively disarmed Vecna. Crucially, Will now knows what Vecna himself fears, and this may grant a key upper hand in the ultimate battle that awaits.