Eventually, Katie's body began to convulse violently in a final struggle. After that, she became completely rigid...

Raegan helped Mitchel toward the elevator. Now that the building was secure and free from external threats, it was much safer and easier to use the elevator rather than the stairs, which would have been too taxing for her to manage.

Once inside the elevator, Raegan leaned Mitchel against the wall and took a moment to catch her breath.

She reached to press the floor button and turned around to see Mitchel staring at her with his piercing eyes, not blinking.

Startled, Raegan quickly reached out to feel his forehead, asking, "How are you feeling? Are you okay?”

Suddenly, Mitchel grasped her wrist and asked in a raspy voice, “Raegan... Am I dreaming?"

He lifted his calloused hand to caress her cheek. "Is this real?"

He seemed delirious from the fever, feeling like he was experiencing a dream.

Raegan stood still, letting his blood-stained hand gently stroke her face. She responded with patience and tenderness, “It's me. I'm really here..."

Before she could finish, Mitchel abruptly pulled her closer and wrapped her in a tight embrace, holding her firmly. His arms encircled her like vines, securely holding her, yet he remained silent. He simply held her, savoring the realness of her touch.

Raegan felt the tight squeeze, but she did not pull away.

At that moment, they both needed each other.

His voice, slightly choked up, broke the silence. "Just now, I had another dream about you. In it, you turned to look at me and embraced me at last..."

This made Raegan's nose tingle and her heart fill with a bittersweet sensation. It turned out that during all the painful days they had endured, he had dreamt of her repeatedly. In his dreams, she had always seemed distant and indifferent. That was why Mitchel thought the embrace they just shared might be another dream, a beautiful illusion.

Convinced he was dreaming, Mitchel freely hugged Raegan and kissed her hair. His eyes, filled with emotion, looked into hers. “I miss you so much, but I can't see you..."

Raegan's heart melted, her emotions surging. “You can. Whenever you want, you can see me."

Mitchel opened his eyes and gazed at Raegan. His eyes, inflamed and feverish, glowed with a reddish hue. His intense stare almost convinced Raegan he had regained his clarity.

Mitchel then kissed Raegan's hair tenderly and murmured in a clear, deep voice, “This is nice. I don't want to wake up."

Raegan's nose tingled, and she could no longer hold back her emotions.

Tears cascaded down her cheeks Like pearls.