Space Man

Gone

I was mid-conversation when I noticed Xisuma subtly swaying. His hand reached up to adjust his helmet, his fingers hovering over it like he was struggling to keep his focus. My heart skipped a beat. He looked slightly pale, and the way he gripped the edge of the chair like it was the only thing keeping him upright made my stomach tighten with worry.

"Xisuma?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern. But he didn’t respond immediately. He just slowly sank down into the chair, his breathing deepening a little as if he was trying to steady himself.

"Hey, are you okay?" I said, moving closer, not wanting to make a scene but unable to ignore the worry gnawing at me.

Mumbo, Grian, and Scar were still talking, but the conversation seemed to fade into the background as I focused on Xisuma. His hand still hovered around his helmet, and I could see the subtle trembling in his fingers as he attempted to adjust it. Something was definitely off.

I was about to move to him, but before I could take a step, Xisuma's eyes flickered up to mine—his gaze unfocused, almost distant. Then, in a blink, he teleported away, his figure disappearing in a shimmer of light.

"What the—?" I started, my heart racing. Where had he gone? Was he okay?

Mumbo, who had been talking to Grian, looked up sharply. "Did he just...?"

"Where did he go?" I muttered, turning in circles, trying to make sense of it. No one really seemed to have an answer, and the unease in the air was palpable.

"He’s probably fine," Scar said, though his voice lacked its usual certainty. "But it doesn’t sound like he’s at his best right now."

"I’m going after him," I said, the words spilling out before I could stop them. I wasn’t about to let him just vanish without knowing where he’d gone or if he was alright.

"I’m going after him," I said, the urgency in my voice cutting through the tension in the air. I couldn’t just sit back and pretend everything was fine after seeing Xisuma like that. Something wasn’t right, and I needed to make sure he was safe.

I didn’t waste any time, pushing past the others and hurrying out of Grian’s home. The basket of goodies I’d brought along—the honey jars, the treats, everything—was left behind, forgotten. It didn’t matter. All I cared about was finding Xisuma. He’d teleported, but where to? The questions bounced in my mind, but the most pressing one was his condition—he looked weak, unsteady, and that wasn’t like him at all.

The cool air of the server greeted me as I stepped outside, the faint rustling of leaves and distant sounds of the server filling the quiet. I didn’t know where to start looking, but I couldn’t afford to waste time.

"Where would he go?" I muttered to myself. I glanced around, hoping to spot some sign of him. Maybe he’d gone back to his place, or maybe—just maybe—he had teleported somewhere he felt safe. But the uncertainty gnawed at me, and the more I walked, the more restless I became.

I heard Grian’s voice behind me. "Wait up!" he called, his footsteps quickening as he caught up. "I’ll come with you."

I shot him a look, my pace not slowing. "Thanks, but I’m not sure how much help we’ll be. He just disappeared."

Grian nodded, keeping close. "We’ll find him. He’s not going far."

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong. I quickened my step, focusing on the task at hand. Xisuma was out there, somewhere, and I wasn’t about to stop until I found him.

I could feel the tension rising with every empty corner, every spot we checked that yielded no sign of him. We combed through the shopping district, the familiar places, even the secret hideaways that only a few knew about. But there was nothing—nothing to indicate where Xisuma had gone, or even if he’d been there at all.

My heart was pounding. I could feel the worry creeping up my throat, tightening with each step. Grian was quiet beside me, but I could tell he was just as anxious. He didn’t need to say anything—his presence was enough, silently supportive as we searched.

The only places left to check were my own home and Xisuma’s. We didn’t waste time lingering, quickly heading toward his house. But when we arrived, it was clear he wasn’t there. Not even a trace of him. I could feel the growing panic in my chest.

"He’s not here," I muttered, a knot forming in my stomach.

I looked over at Grian, who was glancing around the area with furrowed brows. "So, it’s your place next, then?"

I nodded, already turning to leave. The sense of urgency was growing with every passing minute. There was nowhere else to check, and my mind kept returning to the one place I knew he might go when he needed space. My home.

I didn’t say anything else as I quickened my pace, leaving the empty air of Xisuma’s house behind. We made our way to mine, and as I approached the front door, I couldn’t help but hold my breath. I was almost afraid to open it, afraid of what I might find—or worse, of finding nothing at all.

I pushed the door open slowly, stepping inside. The familiar warmth of the space greeted me, but there was no sign of Xisuma. The silence felt louder than ever.

"Xisuma?" I called softly, but my voice echoed back to me, unanswered.

Grian stayed by the door, his gaze flicking to me, then around the room. He didn’t say anything, just waiting with that quiet understanding that seemed to follow us wherever we went.

I took a step further in, searching the space. My heart was heavy, the fear now overwhelming. "He has to be here," I muttered, more to myself than to anyone else. "He has to be."