One of the biggest mysteries in Stranger Things is why was Will Byers taken to the Upside Down. While the earlier theories pointed at Vecna, a new vuiral thoery is offering a completely different angle.

Stranger Things 5 teaser is finally out and it hints that we’ll finally get answers about Will’s connection to the Upside Down. But until then, the internet is flooded with theories and one in particular is sparking speculations online.

Was the Demogorgon Really After Eleven, Not Will?

In season 1, Will Byers was abducted by the Demogorgon and dragged into the Upside Down. It was the same day when Eleven opened the gate between Hawkins and the Upside Down. Though after season 4, some fans speculated that he might have been kidnapped by Vecna himself.

But a user on Reddit has shared a new thoery claiming that the Demogorgon was actually chasing Eleven instead of Will Byers. It suggests that Eleven and Will were in the same area that night. In a twist straight out of Jordan Peele’s Us, they may have swapped places. Eleven escaped, while the Demogorgon mistakenly took Will.

When Eleven saw of Will, she instantly recognized him despite the fact that she never met him. Could it be that she did meet him breifly on the night he vanished?

There’s also the fact that Eleven was mistaken for a boy in the earlier episodes. Even Hopper initially thought she might be Will Byers. His resemblance could have played a crucial role in the Demogorgon’s confusion. We know that the creature appears to rely more on sound and instinct than vision.

The Reddit user goes further, saying:

“El diverts the Demogorgon’s attention onto Will, and because they look and sound (to people, nevermind the seemingly sightless Demogorgon) so similar it works. El’s escape and Will’s disappearance would’ve been happening all around the same time, and they were even in the same area. I think that it’s at the very least possible that El witnessed it.”

If this theory holds true, it could explain why Eleven feels she is the monster. She may be hiding a dark secret that her escape led to Will’s abduction. Interestingly, Eleven and Will are never seen together in the same location during the first two seasons.

Could Stranger Things Pull Off a Twist Like This?

While the theory definitely has some merits, it would require a lot of explanations in the final season. The writers have spent years building Will’s connection to the Upside Down and Vecna. A sudden twist like this would not make much sense.

Still, Stranger Things has a history of shocking twists and revelations, so we can’t rule out anything just yet.

Do you think the demogorgon was chasing Eleven instead of Will? Share your views in the comments below.