Quartday, Rami 11th 067.M42
I can't find Arlean, and I don't know what to do now. The Sister on reception at her clinic says they haven't seen her since the sixth, the day before she called me in the middle of the night.
I'm staying in a habitel down near her clinic. I considered getting a high-sec one, but most of those are closer to the travel hubs, and I didn't want to move that far away from where she should be. Thankfully there was one that at least had a decent security rating not too far, and I was able to get an internal room with no windows and only single door access, so it's better than nothing.
After I'd set everything up last night, it was almost impossible to get to sleep. I ended up sitting up for half of the night, playing with Noodles and worrying about everything. About Maddy and her mum. About Arlean. Daisy. Had I bitten off more than I could chew? Should I just turn around and cancel my emergency leave, go to work and pretend nothing happened? Eventually I think I just passed out, I was that tired. But I knew I wasn't going to give it up.
I left as early as I could, and I took the first Magrail down to the lower hive. I was surprised at how busy it was. Normally I travel later in the day, and I can understand why it's relatively busy at that time, but wow. I… didn't realise how many people travelled down there on a daily basis. I guess I just don't think too much about going to the lower hive unless I absolutely have to. But still. It was nearly halfway through the day by the time I got down and made my way to her clinic.
The clinic was full to bursting, people were sitting on the floor, lying on the floor, leaning against walls and doors and each other… I didn't realise how dire it was getting down here. And it was hard to tell who was actually sick, who was just here supporting someone else. I very nearly couldn't make my way through the throng to the reception counter, and trying to get the novitiate Sister sitting there to hear me without shouting at her was a nightmare. She finally managed to tell me that Arlean hadn't reported for duty for the fifth day in a row. I asked if she might have been back at the convent house, perhaps she'd fallen ill or been given another duty or been made to undertake some penance. Unfortunately the Sister at the desk was not of sufficient rank to tell me this, but she offered to pass my details onto one of the more senior Sisters and get them to call me. I had to accept, what else could I do?
So now I'm waiting. To hear back from one of the ranking Sisters, to find out if they know anything about where my sister could be. I considered going for a walk in the streets around the clinic, to see if I could find any places she might have regularly frequented, but I know Arlean. She would have gone straight from the convent house to the clinic and back again when her shift was done. She wouldn't dally at any of the stores nearby. Everything she needs is provided by the Sororitas. Everything she wants is provided by her work.
But it wasn't only that. While I was down there, even in the clinic but especially when I stepped outside again, I just couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. I couldn't see anyone obviously staring at me, and I definitely don't think I saw any of those robed freaks but… It just still felt like someone or something had their eyes on me, constantly. I couldn't shake the feeling pretty much until I'd gotten up to the hab room and locked the door. I don't know, perhaps it's just nerves after what happened last time and after finding out that Arlean's missing.
I can't shake this horrible feeling. I think something really terrible has happened to my big sister. Throne help me, I don't know what to do.
Thought for the Day: Though the time is dark, my faith shines.
