The lack of heating in the office meant that if Raegan had lost consciousness inside, her situation could become perilous.

Despite the silence that followed his calls, a part of Mitchel clung to the hope that no response might mean Raegan was safe elsewhere.

He knocked persistently, but when he received no answer, a slight sense of relief washed over him.

However, just as he considered taking a break, a soft sound caught his attention. It was a noise as subtle as the flutter of butterfly wings in the empty corridor, which was audible due to the stark quiet of the night.

Mitchel's heart clenched at the sound, a terrifying confirmation of his fears. Raegan was indeed inside his office!

Unable to wait for power restoration, Mitchel resorted to using his cane to hammer against the sturdy door, which resisted his desperate strikes.

Frustrated but determined, he shouted, “Raegan, Raegan, don't fall asleep! Hold on, just hold on!" as he continued to batter the door, each strike a plea for her safety.

Within Mitchel's office, silence prevailed. Even the faint sounds had ceased.

Only Mitchell's distressed shouts and the noise from his urgent actions echoed throughout the empty halls. It appeared that the earlier sounds might have been just an illusion.

However, Mitchell remained convinced that Raegan was indeed inside.

He repeatedly struck the door lock, managing only to mark it, without any response from inside.

He realized this approach was futile.

Spotting a fire hose cabinet nearby, which contained an emergency fire extinguisher and an axe, his expression turned grave as he approached it.

Raegan was overwhelmed by the cold. Her awareness ebbed and flowed.

In her delirious state, she felt Mitchel had come to her rescue, prompted by the sounds of banging from outside.

On impulse, she reached out and tapped on the door, hoping to signal her presence to Mitchel.

Exhaustion overwhelmed her, however, and she struggled to keep her eyes open.

The cold had numbed Raegan completely. All she experienced was a profound fatigue enveloping her.

Her hand fell weakly by her side as she teetered on the brink of unconsciousness.

Just as her consciousness was about to fade, a large hole was chiseled through the door by Mitchel. He quickly hacked away the lock, and the door finally swung open.