What happens to target creature when Essence Scatter is played?

Question

When one plays Essence Scatter, does the target creature go back to the opponent's hand, or does it go to their graveyard?

Answer 1

Essence Scatter counters a creature spell, and countering a spell is defined in the Comprehensive Rules 701.5a:

To counter a spell or ability means to cancel it, removing it from the stack. It doesn’t resolve and none of its effects occur. A countered spell is put into its owner’s graveyard.

Note that technically there is never a creature in this case: a spell becomes a creature only when it enters the battlefield.