"Próxima parada, la casa de la bruja!" announced José.

Alma scowled in annoyance.

"The witch's house?" said Morgan.

"You know Spanish?" asked Flor.

"Only what I learned at school."

José pulled up onto a dusty mountain road. The remaining party bounced in their seats as the car drove over the rough and uneven terrain.

Finally, the car stopped in front of a pale orange house nestled within the mountain forest.

"This is our stop," said Rico.

One after another, they all got out of the car, gathering their own bags and suitcases. Alma thanked José and lead them into the small house.

Inside the floors were completely tiled while the rough walls had been painted over in light blue. Flor inhaled the house's musty smell, a wave of memories flooding her mind.

Alma reached up, pulling a beaded cord that dangled from a lone lightbulb that hung from the ceiling. The bulb flickered to life for the first time in months, bathing the area in a warm dim glow.

"I'm guessing I'm sleeping on the couch tonight?" asked Rico.

"I'll dig around for the spare mattress tomorrow," said Alma.

Rico flopped onto the couch, knocking out almost instantly.

"Come on, I'll show you to our room," Flor told Morgan.

She shuffled deeper into the house, showing Morgan to a windowless room.

Two beds lied at opposite sides of the room with an old dresser wedged between them.

"Pick any bed you like," Flor said.

Morgan sat down on the bed nearest her. The term jetlag had been something she had heard about a lot but hadn't fully grasped its concept before today.

Flor jumped onto the second bed. "Beds are nice."

Morgan lied back and stared up at the ceiling.

"Does your uncle know about magic?" she asked.

"Well, we've never outright told him, but I'm sure he suspects we're supernatural, like a lot of people in town," said Flor. "My aunt knows though, and so does their son."

Morgan nodded. The night was oddly quiet. Unlike how it usually was in the city. No speeding cars or loud music from neighboring houses, only the sounds of frogs and crickets. She closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.

She woke back up sometime in the middle of the night.

"Flor, psst. You awake?" Morgan whispered.

"Mm?"

"I need to go to the bathroom."

Flor dug her face into her pillow, pretending to go back to sleep.

"Like really bad," said Morgan.

With a sigh, Flor sat up. "Better put on your shoes."

Flor picked up a heavy flashlight from the dresser. Once they got their shoes on, Flor led Morgan to the back of the house where there was a metal door.

Despite clearly being able to hear crickets on the other side, Morgan hoped there was a shiny, pristine bathroom behind the door.

There wasn't.

Instead, it opened up to the area behind the house. Morgan squinted in the darkness, seeing nothing but trees that went on for miles.

"I have to pee outside?" asked Morgan.

Flor sleepily pointed to a brick structure several feet away from them.

"The bathroom's in there," she said, handing Morgan the flashlight.

Morgan hesitated.

"Do you want me to wait outside?" asked Flor.

"Yes please."

Together the girls trekked into the darkness.

"Why isn't the bathroom inside the house?" asked Morgan.

"The house was built before indoor plumbing was a thing here," Flor explained. "The bathroom is a newer addition. Among other things. "

Flor opened the door to the structure and flicked on the lights. Morgan was a little relieved to see an actual bathroom inside complete with a shower and toilet.

"I'll be right here the whole time," Flor assured her.

"I'll try to be quick," said Morgan as she headed inside.

Flor sighed and leaned against the structure. She had forgotten how much she hated going to the bathroom here. Here on the mountain, the woods really were neverending.

Hoo, hoo, hooo!

Flor jumped, kicking a rock in her panic. Or at least she had thought it was a rock.

She froze hearing a deep menacing croak. To her horror, a slimy toad looked up at her with big bulgy eyes.

"Oh no. Oh no, no, no!"

Dropping to her knees, Flor clasped her hands together, apologizing profusely and begging for forgiveness.

"[I'm so sorry Mr. Toad! I didn't see you! It was an accident! Honest!]"

"Flor?"

Morgan stood in the doorway, trying to make sense of the scene that unfolded before her.

"I, uh, got spooked by an owl, and, kicked a toad..." Flor explained sheepishly.

The toad croaked again. Morgan crouched down to its level.

"She's very sorry. Think you can forgive her?"

The toad stared at her quietly. Finally, it gave one final croak, turned, and hopped away into the forest.

"I think you're good now," snickered Morgan.

"Muahahaha!"

The girls screamed, hugging each other for dear life. Rico burst out laughing.

Morgan crossed her arms. "What the hell! I could have set you on fire!"

"Surprised you haven't yet," said Rico, rubbing his abdomen.

Flor shoved him. "That wasn't funny Enrique!"

"It was funny to me. And if I was you, I'd get going before Señor Sapo comes back with friends."

His sister stormed back to the house in a huff. Morgan, not wanting to be left behind, followed her. However, once they reached the door, Flor stopped. A rare look of mischievousness on her face.

"Watch this," she whispered.

Flor cupped her hands over her mouth.

Hoo, hoo, hooo!

Rico spun around, searching frantically for the source of the hooting. He slipped and fell right into the bathroom, proceeded by a splash.

"BLANCAFLOR!"

The girls ran inside laughing.