My breath trapped itself in my chest as the three sharp knocks suddenly turned into a frantic, violent pounding. BANG. BANG. BANG. The fragile wooden door rattled violently on its loose hinges, threatening to splinter right into the room.
I scrambled backward on the burlap sacks, my hand instinctively darting to my waist, searching for a weapon I didn't have. My heart hammered so hard against my ribs I thought it would shatter them.
Then, a sudden, wet shhhk sound cut through the wood.
A choked gasp echoed from the other side of the threshold, followed by the dull, heavy thud of a body collapsing face-first onto the dirt outside.
The door was kicked open with a slow, casual creak.
