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What exactly is inside the briefcase that the young Henry uncovered in his tragic memory? While Holly Wheeler only got to take a glimpse of it, it's the reason why and how Henry turned into the vicious monster of the Upside Down. Here's what happened.
WARNING: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Stranger Things Vol. 2, so proceed with caution.
What's Up with Vecna/Henry's Briefcase? The Truth Behind His Origin
As Max and Holly were trying to find a way to escape the dreamscape that Vecna/Mr. WhatsIt built for the kids, they discover a core memory about Henry's past.
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The reason why Henry never ventures into the caves is because of his memory of stumbling upon a scientist who had defected from a government experiment.
When Henry finds the scientist, the latter was clutching a briefcase that actually contained stolen technology from an experiment that somehow led him and a group of men to a place they called Dimension X.
We now not only have a name for the alternate world where Vecna's body and his vessels are located, but we also know that his creation was all because of the stolen technology that helped him land his "sanctuary."
As Deadline puts it, the device has a direct connection to the Stranger Things play called The First Shadow, in which we get a wider scope of how Henry's backstory goes.
In this case, the alternate world, presumably called Dimension X in the canon universe too, is how Henry returned to their world with a "unique blood type, a different personality, and new powers."
Just as season 4 revealed that Henry was 001, the first child that led to the MKUltra experiments, where Brenner attempted to create more children with supernatural powers.
What's Vecna's Real Plan About the 12 Kids He Kidnapped?
Just as Will Byers suspected in Stranger Things season 5 volume 1, Vecna's plan is to abduct a total of 12 children into his lair, with his own plan set in motion.
As Will surmised from Vecna's own revealing words, he picked children as they are "easier to corrupt and manipulate" and would amplify his strength in building the world he wishes it could be.
With the fleshy tubes attached (again) to Will and the 12 children's mouths, Vecna feeds them with the Mind Flayer molecules that would help build him his tunnel, just like how Will unconsciously did in the second season.
As much as Vecna should be scared that Derek and Holly are not on his side, he threatened Derek with a nightmare he would rather not happen in the real world, and manipulated the children to turn against Holly to "get her into his light."
Holly, now friendless and alone, is forced to comply with the others as they're stuck in Vecna's commencing plan.
In the meantime, fans can wait until Stranger Things season 5 volume 3, aka Chapter 8: The Rightside Up, premieres on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025, on Netflix and in select theaters at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT. Stay tuned!
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