You take a tentative step up the ladder, and it seems to hold your weight. You take another step, and then another. Halfway up the ladder, you can see the inside of the boarded-up door. You begin to realize that there is a small flaw in your plan, but you decide to cross that bridge when it comes.
You reach the top of the ladder and stare at the door. Frustrated, you throw your fists at it in futility.
— Who's there? calls a sing-song voice, almost knocking you off the ladder in surprise. You grip the top rung tighter.
— Help! Open the door! you cry, louder than you need to.
— Nuh-uh! Sor-ry! says the sing-song voice. You hear faint laughter on the other side.
You try to evaluate your position. Strategically, you decide, you are losing, considering (a) you're on top of a tall, flimsy ladder, and (b) you have no idea what you are doing. You deduce that you are in no way prepared to go on the offensive.