Eleven isn’t actually going to sacrifice herself in Stranger Things 5, right?

This post contains spoilers from Stranger Things 5 volume 2 from this point forward.

We're getting closer and closer to learning the true endgame of Stranger Things, especially now that the second batch of season 5 has premiered. Since at least season 2, fans have been wondering how the series will come to an end and have been especially worried about which characters will live or die. Eleven in particular has been a character of interest, given her proximity to the experiment.

In Stranger Things 5 volume 2, Eleven reunites with her sister Kali, also known as Eight, after she and Hopper discover that her long lost sister has been tied up in the Upside Down and tested on by Dr. Kay. Even though fans probably didn't want to see this character back again, she's going to play a pivotal role not only in the final episodes but in Eleven's personal journey moving forward.

Stranger Things fans' worst fear came true in season 5 episode 7 when Eight revealed her plan to put an end to Dr. Brenner's experiment once and for all. As she explains to Eleven, in order put a stop to the cycle, she and Eleven will have to sacrifice themselves. But... there's a way for Eleven to save the day without having to sacrifice herself, right? Right?!

Eleven considers Eight's plan to sacrifice themselves

While there has to be another way for Eight and Eleven to destroy the experiment without sacrificing themselves, it makes sense how she ended up at this conclusion. The plan came into motion when they realized that Dr. Kay has been putting Eight's blood in pregnant women trying to make more kids with powers, recreating what Brenner had started with Henry and Eleven.

But Kay realized that only one of the kids from the previous experiment was truly like Henry, and that's Eleven. That's why Kay has been inexhaustible in her search for Eleven throughout season 5. Eight believes that there's no happy endings for her and Eleven because even if they kill Kay, there will always been another person wanting to track her down and create more Henrys.

Eleven's initially hopeful that if they can blow up the bridge and Kay's lab and kill Henry and Kay, that they will be able to start fresh somewhere else. But Eight insists that they will always be on the run from the cycle beginning again. The plan involves killing their brother (Vecna/Henry) and vanishing along with the Upside Down. Destroying all of Henry's blood is the only way.

Is it, though? Eight introduces this plan rather early into volume 2, which should lead us to the suspicion that we shouldn't fully believe what we're being told. It would be boring if they told us how the series would end a few episodes before it happens. Not to mention, Eleven currently seems on board with following through with the plan, and that should give us even more pause that somehow, someway, it won't actually happen.

Stranger Things often finds alternate paths to getting from point A to point B that keeps us on our toes. Even just in volume 2, we thought we knew what the exotic matter was but that ended up bringing the team to the discovery of the wormhole and the Abyss. As they always say, it's not over until it's over, and there has to be a way for Eleven to make it out of this final battle alive.

Watch Stranger Things 5 volume 2 now on Netflix.