Darkness is the safest place you can be when the monsters can't be seen in light. I would go for the ladder.

Been sitting on this for two weeks after having this dream. Couldn't decided what character to use so I just made a bear/capybara/whatever so I could finish this thing. I'm trying to practice more with digitally painting things and greys are much easier to work with than colors, so mad props to Lundi for the inspiration.