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INDIANA JONES
vii. RUMOR HAS IT

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1800s
THE ENCHANTED FOREST

EVER SINCE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD INDIANA Jones first bumped into the strange Pipe player with green eyes, she'd been having peculiar dreams about him in an equally as peculiar land called Neverland. This wasn't the first time she'd dreamt about Neverland, similar to most children all over the realms and beyond. This was the first time, however, when Indiana dreamt about the unnamed pipe player.

As the years of her adolescence flew by, Indiana Jones slowly but surely grew up to be a strong and independent young girl. She fought bullies who picked on people that were hardly half their size. Indiana was known to be a rebellious and determined child within her small village, making it so that only Aunt Lucy knew how to reign her in.

Most kids never wanted to play with her or her best friend, Baelfire. When Indiana was 10 and Baelfire was 12, Baelfire randomly disappeared one day. Many simply assumed that he was kidnapped with the other missing boys. Rumplestiltskin was awfully quiet during something insane as this; therefore, it made her feeling as though he knew something. Nonetheless, she kept her mouth shut and went about her day-to-day life.

A few weeks after the reckless Indiana Jones turned 12-years-old, she decided to go to the market and pick up some groceries for her and her Aunt Lucy, who was taken down with a horrible cold and was unable to cook without getting her snot all over it.

Typically, when Indiana went to the market, it was a quick trip. She wasn't one to get distracted by many things, especially when her mind was already focused on something. This time, things were different. Indiana couldn't help but notice the people of her village staring at her, whispering suspiciously all around her. It was like she was an outsider or even a wild animal that had found its way into the market place.

This went on the entire time she strolled to grab several items, such as medicine and some ingredients that she could use to cook for her and Lucy. As Indiana walked up to a woman to pay, the woman suddenly sneered at her. "We don't sell to pests like you, kid," the woman snarled.

Indiana raised her eyebrows at the sudden rudeness. She'd been shopping from the same place for years. Why would this woman be so cold to her? "Willow, what are you talking about?" Indiana stared to ask. "It's me—"

"Indiana Jones. I know," Willow harshly interrupted. "Rumor has it that you're related to a gruesome pirate that goes by the name of Killian Jones."

Indiana snorted. "If I had any siblings, I think I would know," the girl retorted. "Besides, I sure as heck wouldn't be related to a pirate. Aunt Lu hates the ocean. Why would my brother be a pirate if she hates the ocean?"

Willow rolled her eyes. "I don't know, but what I do know is that you can't be buying things here until we're sure that you're not related to a pirate—especially that one," Willow declared. "It's bad business."

"But-But Lucy's sick!" Indiana cried out in attempt to convince her. "I need this medicine. You don't understand! Please, Willow. I don't know what kind of sick joke this is, but I really need this medicine."

As Indiana said this, she couldn't help but notice a familiar, yellow-eyed Shadow creeping around behind Willow as the girl pleaded. Indiana would've gasped if she weren't so upset over the fact that no one in the market was willing to sell items to her. As Indiana continued to fuss and beg Willow, the Shadow suddenly lurched forward and began to pull at something black behind the woman. That's when Indiana realized. The Shadow was tearing off Willow's shadow.

Indiana let out a loud and audible gasp, causing her to nearly drop everything she was holding out of shock. She had no idea the Shadow was real or that it was murderous. She hadn't seen the Shadow since she was eight-years-old. The only recent memory that she had left of the Shadow since then were all in her dreams, but those dreams of Neverland hadn't been occurring since Indiana's 12th birthday. She's always assumed that the Shadow was something her younger-self made up.

People of the village began to crowd around the scene in horror, shocked and fearful as the Shadow flew off into the distance.

"That girl's a witch!"

"She called that Shadow! It must be some pirate trick!"

"She's dangerous!"

More and more people shouted terrible things at her. The more they did so, the closer they got to the child. It was like they were going to tie her up and set her body on fire, just like the stories Lucy read her to scare her as a child. Nonetheless, Indiana did the only thing she knew best in a situation like this. She backed up and she ran, keeping a firm grip on the items she was now stealing.

"Great! Now that Indiana Jones is a thief!"

"She has to be taken down before she hurts anyone else!"

Shaky breaths escaped her mouth as Indiana bolted back home. Her whole body vibrated with fear. Indiana had heard plenty of rumors about herself back in the day, but they were always small and pathetic because they were created by the bullies who had brains the size of her nail. Indiana had never experienced something like this before in her entire life.

Indiana sprinted as fast as her legs could carry her until she finally reached home. Luckily, no crazed protesters were there... yet. This meant Indiana had a chance to explain herself to Lucy before they got there. However, Indiana's luck just wasn't apparent that day.

For when Indiana busted in through the front door, she was greeted by her best friend and idol, Aunt Lucy Jones' shadow getting ripped from the seams of her body.

Eyes widening, the 12-year-old dropped the items she just stole and ran toward Lucy as the Shadow quickly flew away. "Aunt Lucy!" Indiana cried out, holding her hand. The woman stared at Indiana with a scared look in her eyes.

"In...die," Lucy managed to say. "Someone's...out... to get you..."

"What-What do you mean? Why were you out of bed? We need to get you help!" Indiana exclaimed. "Who do we call when someone just ripped out your Shadow?"

"There's...a weapon...in closet..." Lucy continued to spit out. "Take...Protect...yourself."

Just like that, it was as if all the life had just suddenly disappeared from her body. "No, no. I can't do this alone. Why, now? Please wake up!" Indiana exclaimed. "Aunt Lucy!"

Shakily, Indiana decided to listen to what Lucy had told her. In her closet, there was a box with Indiana's name on it. Within it was a letter that said, 'This is coated with some of the strongest poison magic has to offer. If it chooses you, it will never hurt you. Protect yourself. Be safe. Happy 13th birthday.' It was most likely her gift for when Indiana became a teenager, but Lucy would never get to give it to her. Then again, who gave a 13-year-old a whip for their birthday? That's Aunt Lucy for you.

Within the box along with the letter was the weapon that Indiana would carry with her for the rest of her life. It was a long, brown whip. The whip suddenly glowed, making Indiana think that it chose her—just like the letter said. Shoving the small letter in her pocket, Indiana took the whip and carried it back out. She stared at Aunt Lucy's body sadly.

No matter how hard the girl tried, Aunt Lucy wasn't waking up. She was dead, just like Willow from the market. And now, Indiana was, too... metaphorically speaking. She felt like someone had shot her in the head when the villagers appeared at her door, most likely ready to tell Aunt Lucy to throw Indiana to the streets.

However, all Indiana heard instead were gasps. Instead of consoling her, the villagers began to shout again. "That Indiana... she murdered Lucy Jones!"

Indiana snapped her head back. "No I didn't! And I didn't murder Willow!" Indiana shouted. "It was the Shadow!"

Indiana shook her head. Before she knew it, she was pushing through the people to run out the door. No one seemed to grab her because they were now afraid of her.

'Just who is this Killian Jones?' Indiana thought as tears dripped from her eyes. 'I'm going to get my revenge... one way or another.'

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

indiana's been framed! :O

at first, i was thinking to give her a sword, but then i thought "HELLOOOO this is indiana jones!!!" so now she has a whip.

and i will literally murder all of you who comment "watch me whip, watch me naenae" i stg

anyways this is when indiana starts to live life on the run. she'll finally be going on adventures n shit, so get excited!