If you're looking for answers without flaws I'm afraid you're out of luck since the default in this place is handwavey vagueness that equates to somewhere between 'it's magic' and a bunch of scientific wormhole babble that only loosely resembles English.

Also usually, no. They don't. But this place loves pulling the impossible out of nowhere just to give everyone here something new to complain about. I don't know if your family is here, but if they are it's likely they'll see this. If they're not, maybe they're lucky, or you are. Either way, threatening someone who's also been 'vanished' here from her home isn't going to win you many brownie points. If you want answers, then ask. Most people here are willing to explain as much as they've learned to anyone who needs to know.