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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 the Stranger Things season 5 finale, 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 Mr. Whatsit built for the kids, they discovered a core memory about Henry's past.
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 found the scientist, the latter was clutching a briefcase that contained stolen technology, or so Deadline initially thought, which would lead them to a place called Dimension X (the place where Vecna's body rested along with the 12 vessels). The Stranger Things season 5 finale, however, showed otherwise.
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The series finale showed what Henry Creel discovered as a child, and it wasn't a portal that transported him to Dimension X. Rather, it was a glowing red stone that contained the Mind Flayer's subconscious as it was on the search for its own vessel.
Since Henry was injured and had open wounds at the time, the Mind Flayer took advantage of it and seeped into the child's mind, controlling him ever since, despite the scientist's warning to never let it. This begs the question...
Was Henry Creel Always This Evil?
While the previous episodes led fans to believe that Henry always feared the cave because of his first kill, the series finale unfolded and explained that it was self-defense. The scientist shot Henry's hand, and what's a kid to do in a situation like this? He picked up the rock and struck back.
With the memory now full and comprehensible for viewers and Will, who witnessed the entire memory along with Vecna, this led Will to question whether Henry was really evil all along. The short answer is no.
It made Will believe that being a mere vessel for the Mind Flayer might actually mean they have a chance to work together and defeat the creature once and for all. This is where things get complicated.
Even though Henry knew that it was the Mind Flayer who controlled and manipulated him ever since he was a child, he believed its lies by calling it the truth: the world is broken, and that they need to "fix it" themselves.
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, was forced to comply with the others as they're stuck in Vecna's commencing plan.
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