🔗 Share this article The Mystery Within the Case Henry Unlocks in Stranger Things? For much of season 5 of the popular Netflix show, the young Holly Wheeler and Max Mayfield are imprisoned within a psychic prison built from the memories of Vecna. Their mission for an escape route in "Escape from Camazotz" forces them to witness again a defining event from Henry's early years—a discovery that could contain the secret to his downfall for good. Heads Up: This discussion contains major spoilers for *Stranger Things* season 5, volume 2. The Discovery in the Tunnel After locating Max in the psychic realm known as Camazotz, Holly discovers she is hiding out in a grotto that Henry strangely fears. An accidental discovery a telescope found in Henry's old home lets Holly see that the true terror lies beyond the cave. Matching her view through the cap, she and Max plummet into a subterranean passage. They watch a young, eight-year-old Henry encounter an wounded, fearful individual. Attempting assistance, the man reacts violently, striking Henry in the hand. Fighting for his life, Henry ends the threat with a rock. "Was this the turning point?" Holly wonders aloud. It was a factor, but the event involved more than a defensive killing. In keeping with mysteries in volume 2, the truth about the events in the tunnel is detailed in the theatrical production the prequel play. A Naval Mystery and Stolen Research *The First Shadow* opens with the 1943 event, which allegedly sent a warship into a realm later called the Abyss. The ship was attacked, and the sole survivor was the ship's commander, who emerged in a unresponsive state with an different blood composition. The captain's son, the future Dr. Brenner, attempted to recreate this phenomenon in the Nevada desert. But a disloyal lab worker took experimental components to sell to the Communist spies, who were keen to start their own interdimensional projects. This spy in the tunnel is the one who stole the materials. Unlocking the Mystery Considering what is known about Brenner's work, the briefcase would assuredly have some of the unique blood type. As shown, Henry is wounded and bleeding. He likely becomes contaminated upon opening the case, causing the awakening of his powers—abilities he would inadvertently transfer to the kids under Brenner's care. Another possibility, the container could have held exotic matter that later made its way to the secret facility, where it acts to anchor the parallel world. The prequel shows that Henry was transported in the Abyss, coming back 12 hours later as a different person. From then on, he struggles with the influence of a dark entity, reminiscent of how the character Will was controlled by the Mind Flayer in the past. Confronting Terror The reason Henry avoids the cave of that cave highlights how deeply scarring the event was for him. While he orchestrates the army of monsters and attempts to pull the Abyss into Hawkins, a part of him still exists. Vecna uses fear, and the show is setting up a climactic battle between the monster and Will, who has deliberately faced his own deepest fears to gain strength. Will's growth has taken a weapon from Vecna. More importantly, Will now is aware of what his enemy truly fears, and this may grant a key upper hand in the endgame conflict to come.