An old lady with an idea

Vanessa looked at the castle, it seemed huge despite being wedged between buildings down this empty and run down street. She saw the sign displaying the castle's name and wondered what on earth this place was. Why would a ride be forbidden to guests? She asked herself.

A tap on the right shoulder made Vanessa jump. "Pardon me madam, but I can't help but notice you've been robbed, and the thief is in that castle." A strange older lady told her. She wore a faded purple gown that wrapped around her head. Vanessa looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I don't need help from a nosy old timer who doesn't even have enough manners to properly introduce themselves!" Vanessa snapped back rudely.

The old woman chuckled, as if she'd dealt with this type of behaviour before. "Do you want your stuff back or not?" She asked bluntly. Vanessa clenched her fist angrily, she hated that this woman was right. She did want her briefcase back, and if it meant listening to an old hag then so be it. "Fine, make it quick, what do I have to do..." Vanessa asked the old lady. "Oh it's quite simple, you see that castle only takes adults who have misbehaved, so all you need to do is tell them you have been a bit naughty and they'll let you in." The woman explained.

Vanessa scoffed and curled her nose up in digust. "Pffft! There's no way I'm admitting something so stupid and childish!" Vanessa thought the idea was laughably bad. "Well that's the only way you're getting in, so take it or leave it..." The woman bluntly told Vanessa. "Well, as soon as I tell them that they'll probably hold me captive or something, it's all medieval!" Vanessa told the woman, thinking this was never gonna work.

The woman smiled again, she'd heard this excuse too. "They don't do anything, they just let you in, that's all. Then you can reason with the great Miss Wallace, who should hopefully give you your stuff back." The woman told Vanessa.

Vanessa pondered. On one hand, she hated the idea of admitting she was naughty, she was above that and felt ashamed even thinking about it. But on the other hand, this would get her into the castle...