Jill pushed open the door, holding on of Barry's lanterns before her. It air was stale, signifying that this place had shut up for some time. Jill stepped inside and looked around. To her right were a large bathroom and a set of stairs leading to the second floor. To her left were two rows of bunks. Like Chris had said the metal bunks still had the mattresses on them. Jill slapped on, stirring up a cloud of dust. She started to hack as Claire stepped in.
"This place sure looks comfy." She then turned to Jill, who was still coughing. "You alright or should I call an ambulance?"
"I'm fine. Damn, this brings back memories." Jill turned to Claire. "Tell the others to get the stuff in here. I'll dust everything off."
"Yes Sir." Claire saluted and left to get the other women.
Kelly looked at the ceiling. "This place looks creepy." She said, spotting some cobwebs.
"Let me guess," Janet said, "We have to clean this place up."
Jill nodded her head. "Seems so. Let's get to work. The sooner we tidy up, the sooner we can get to bed."
The cleaning began. On Chris' orders, Ark had purchased some battery-powered vacuum cleaners. Janet and Ada had the task of sucking up all the webs. Claire, Rebecca, and Kelly had the task of making up the beds. Jill and Eliza were busy sweeping the floor. Sherry and Lily had the job of holding the lanterns. The job took a good half hour to complete. By the time they were done, the place was as clean as it could get without overhauling everything. Finished, the women sat on their beds.
"This reminds me of sleepovers I used to have in high school with my friends." Rebecca said.
"This reminds me of just about ever night I was in collage." Claire said. "Eleven, twelve o'clock there would be people in the lobby. I don't know if some of those people even slept."
"What major were you doing for?" Ada asked.
"I never decided." Claire answered. "I was only in collage for one year. I left shortly after I began my second year to find Chris. Right about now I would be in the spring semester and choosing my major. I though of going into something related to mechanics, seeing that I'm in to motorcycles. Of coarse Chris would want me to go into something like the arts for something more fancy."
"He's overbearing, isn't he?" Jill asked.
"Very." Claire responded. "He always thought he had to protect me. While we were in the orphanage, he would beat up anyone who harassed me. To bad he doesn't know that I beat up most of those jerks myself."
"Must be nice to have a brother." Eliza said. "I never had any brothers or sisters. I was an only child. I guess the best thing is that your parents focus all their attention on you."
"Well I don't have a brother, but I have an older sister." Kelly said. "We had lots of fun together. We used to style each other's hair and swap clothes. Last I heard from her was a few weeks before I joined Umbrella. She was living in Santa Barbara. I wonder if she even thinks I'm alive."
"I had two brothers." Janet said. "They were always pestering me. Fortunately I was older, so my parents always took my side. Funny thing is no matter how they treated you; you miss them after a few years."
Ada looked at one of the dust-encrusted windows. "At least some of us have families. I don't know if my parents are alive or dead. It's been so long since I was able to talk to them. One thing about being a spy, you technical don't exist anymore. I'm sure Umbrella fed them some story that I was killed in some accident. One of the first things I'm going to do after Umbrella's gone is find them."
"First thing I'm going to do is visit my parents graves." Claire said. "My brother and I haven't been to that cemetery since the funeral. It's about time I pay my respects to them."
"I've had it worse." Jill said. "I lost two families."
"What do you mean?" Kelly asked.
Jill looked around the room. "I lost my family, and then I lost my partners in the S.T.A.R.S. I considered them to be a second family, much like Chris regarded Becky as a sister. That's why I took it so hard when most of our team was killed in the Spencer Mansion. But you know what, I think I have a new family now. And if things go the way they are, I may end up getting a sister." Jill looked at Claire and smiled.
"I think you already do." Claire replied.
"So what's the story between you and Chris?" Eliza asked. "You two seem awfully close."
"They are." Rebecca said. "They've been that way ever since Chris came to Raccoon. The way they kept staring at each other, most of the people expected to find them making out in the weapons locker or the garage."
"BECKY!" Jill gasped.
"It's true." Rebecca said. "Forest and the other guys in S.T.A.R.S. had a running bet on how long it would take Chris and Jill to be an item. I kind of found it amusing how the other women would practically kill to go out with him, but Jill tried to deny she had a crush on him. It was about time they just admitted it. Any longer and they would have drove everyone else insane."
Jill gave Rebecca a sly look. "Since we're on boyfriends, what about you and Carlos?"
Rebecca's eyes darted around to the other women who were eager to know. "I find him charming. He's a nice guy. Just the other day he let me use the bathroom first. I'll tell you what I told Eliza, Kelly, and Janet. We're almost there."
"Almost." Claire said. "Try already there. The way you two were it would have taken the Jaws of Life to pry you two apart. You two are defiantly a couple."
"Then what about you and Leon?" Rebecca shot back.
"Everyone knows already." Claire replied. "We're together. I think everyone knows about you and Max." Claire said, pointing to Kelly. "And you and James." She said, pointing to Ada. "But what about you?" Claire pointed to Eliza.
"Me? I don't have a boyfriend." Eliza said.
"Then why were you and Ark hugging?" Lily asked. Both girls had been listening intently to the conversation. "I saw you by that tree."
"Well, it's, I don't know." Eliza was at a loss for words. "He's nice and all but I'm not sure if we should start a relationship now. And about that hug, he was just making me feel better. I feel safe when I'm around him."
"That's how I felt around Chris." Jill said. "I think you're getting there. All I can tell you is not to mess up this opportunity. There aren't many good men in this world."
"Which brings us to Janet." Kelly said. "Tell the truth, do you have a thing for Rick."
"No, of coarse not. I only consider him a teammate and nothing more." Janet laid down and pulled the covers up. "If you don't mind, I think we should get some sleep."
"I agree." Ada said. She clicked off the lantern next to her bed. The other women did the same and got as comfortable as they could. Jill turned off her lantern as settled down. The building became silent. Sherry broke the silence.
"When are any of you going to get married?" She asked.
"I don't know." Jill replied. "Hopefully as soon as we stop Umbrella." Jill closed her eyes, secretly hoping that she would be right.