6.

Blood began to trickle from Gareth's nose again. His eyes opened and began to roll showing only the whites. Neil was all in a panic once again but tried his best to remain somewhat calm. There is only him to make a decision in this moment. He took off his jacket and placed it behind Gareth's head, as well as rolling up a clean handkerchief to place in his mouth just in case he might have a seizure.

A lady approached. Speaking with what was clearly an Australian accent she spoke 'help me get him inside' while pointing towards an opening to the right. Thank God, Neil thought, I'm not alone. Neil picked Gareth up and carried him inside of an off-road cave like area. Neil found a suitable spot to let Gareth lay down and rest.

'I take it that you were a protector' inquired Neil.

'Yes, I am the fifth protector, and my name is Anna.'

Anna reached for the crystal and gave it a slight twist. A green force field appeared and surrounded herself, Neil, and Gareth; it then expanded to engulf the whole cave.

'What just happened?' asked Neil.

'I have just activated the crystal's vortex.'

'The crystal's vortex? What is that? Isn't it some sort of wormhole or something?'

'Not necessarily. The vortex is an inbuilt mechanism within the crystal. When activated like it is now it protects us, keeps us safe inside its force field. It keeps intruders out and allows the current protector time to heal if so needed.'

'Really?'

'Yes. It is quite a clever quality, allowing for moments like this. It stops, temporarily at least, seekers from getting their hands on the crystal or on the protector. The crystal reverses the role so to speak and protects the protector. The protected item has a mechanism to protect its protector.'

'So, what is wrong with Gareth? Will he be alright?' asks Neil.

Attending to Gareth, Anna explains that Gareth is essentially suffering from an information overload. Each time a former protector makes themselves known it is as if Gareth downloads some of that protector's abilities, traits and even some of their memories. The crystal was also able to let Gareth know that he can trust Neil, essentially downloading part of Neil too.

From receiving it back after Neil had taken it also means there is now a part of Neil within Gareth psyche despite the fact that Neil was never intended to be a protector himself. It all is a hell of a lot to take in such a short amount of time. There are more previous protectors than ever before and are coming through very quickly too.

Anna would also explain to Neil that each of the previous protectors had been a protector for years, so the emergence of each previous protector had occurred over a long period of time. However, things are indeed moving much quicker for Gareth. It just so happens unfortunately, that it is moving a little too quickly and Gareth has kinda ... shut down. Anna was also able to inform Neil that seekers had already arrived at the current location and many more are on their way but as long as the vortex was active then the seekers could not enter the cave.

It would be close to an hour after the vortex had been activated when Gareth was able to regain some kind of consciousness and when he did regain consciousness, he would begin not make any kind of sense as far as Neil was concerned.

'Gdzie ja jestem?'

'What was that?' asked Neil.

'He is speaking Polish' Anna told Neil, 'Pavel is Polish and this is why he is speaking that way, he is not quite back with us yet.'

'Co się dzieje?' Gareth spoke becoming somewhat agitated.

'Calm down Gareth' speaks Neil. 'It will all be alright. We will work all this out.'

'Muszę iść'.

Gareth sat up and with whatever he had done as he got up, the vortex force field around the cave came down. Gareth, Neil, and Anna no longer had the protection of the vortex. Seekers indeed had already arrived and now they have the ability to enter the cave.

As it is, Gareth is in no condition to fight. Anna and Neil could only do so much to fight off those seekers. Neil still felt strong from when he had the crystal though only to a point. He is also painfully aware that the effects the crystal had on him and still are having on him are something which could come to an end at any moment but for now and especially now he is glad that he still felt strong.

Having been distracted by the thoughts that those outside could come inside, Neil has taken his attention away from Gareth's movements. When he did take the time to look back around, Neil could not see Gareth anywhere.

'Gareth is gone' Neil told Anna.

'He has the crystal and that means that I cannot stay here with you' speaks Anna. 'It is the crystal that allows me to be here so no crystal means that fairly soon there will also be no me. You are going to have to go it alone Neil. I will ...'

Anna was gone, she disappeared, and Neil found himself alone and in the company of a large number of seekers. Each seeker, of course had a crystal of their own, and Neil did not have any. He had, obviously enough, returned the green crystal to Gareth and the smaller one he had acquired he had destroyed.

Each seeker owned crystal within the immediate vicinity had been glowing. As soon as Anna vanished each of the seeker's crystals stopped glowing. Neil was ready to defend himself to the best of his ability for as long as he could but as it soon would appear there would be no need for him to do so.

With the dimming of the glowing crystals, the seekers all no longer had a desire to fight. What they wanted is no longer within the cave like area, so the seekers soon let Neil be. Neil's initial relief quickly turned to panic as he did not know where Gareth had got himself to and he does not know exactly what kind of condition Gareth currently is in.

Neil could only hope that wherever Gareth had got to, that he would have the aid of his fellow protectors, but all the same, Neil's thoughts filled his mind with fear as if the presence of the former protectors is the main reason to Gareth's current demeanour, then at that Neil could only presume that Gareth's condition would only get worse.

Can Gareth see out his journey? Or will a seeker take possession of the crystal. One way or another, the journey is nearing its conclusion ...