A/N: Okay, so I suck big time. I swear that I am still writing this! It's just going slower then I had hoped. So as a little sorry, I am posting a little preview to the next chapter. I know it's not much, but It's all I could give right now.
So very sorry.

also, please note that this is not the final copy, and things may be change in the finished product.

"See that star, baby?" she lifts her hand, boney fingers pointing towards the sky. The thousands of stars winking back at her against their black velvet backdrop.

I shake my head, twisting my fingers in my lap. "There are billions of stars, Mom" I sigh and lean back against the rock, my legs swinging out over the edge.

Mom shakes out her hair, the fired red flowing down her boney shoulders. She chuckles before letting her hand drop back into her lap "No, Hun" she shakes her head "that one, the bright one" she jerks her head towards the stars again.

I press the heels of my palms into my eyes before looking back up. "They're all bright" I whine.

"No, honey, they aren't." She reaches over and takes my hand, grasping it tightly between both of hers. "The one beside that cluster of stars on the horizon" she rubs her hands over mine, staring out in the night. "Do you see it?"

I follow her line of sight out and away from the Dark City. "Just above the tallest peak" she whispers.

My eyes trace each edge, falling with the rock until I reach the middle. "You see it" she smiles to herself.

"Yes" I whisper watching as the little star twinkles above the white-d tip.

"Tell me about it" she says, her eyes flicking back and forth. "Please, baby."

"It's bright" I snort, shaking my head.

"Yes, it was" she smiles towards the sky.

"And...it's flickering" I say, frowning as it dims and brightens. "Did stars do that before, Mom?"

She shakes her head "No, Hun" she chuckles "Stars didn't flicker. They don't flicker."

"Mom?" I look back at her.

"Yes, baby?" she turns towards my voice, her eyes unfocused.

"Is it?"

"Is it what?" she smiles.

"Is it a star?"

Her white eyes stare ahead of her, just over my shoulder. "No, baby" she says, letting go of my hand and bringing hers to my face, tracing the lines of my cheeks. "It isn't a star."

"Then why would you—"

"Because things aren't always what they seem, Bella" her fingers trace my forehead. "Sometimes we only see what is in front of us, what is put there for us to see. Illusions are what keep us alive, honey, what protect us from what is truly there." Her finger tips trace to the tip of my nose. "You have to be careful in life, baby. Sometimes the things you thought you knew" she sighs "aren't always what you believed them to be."

"Okay "I sigh, dragging out the word. "That's enough fresh air for you tonight."

Her fingers trace my eyelids before dropping away. "You're more beautiful every time" she smiles blindly at nothing. "Just like your father."

I shake my head "My mother" I correct her.

"I don't remember the moon anymore, did you know that?" she asks. "Or the water, but I can still see your smile." she smiles to herself as she stares out in front of her.

"You're tired" I say, grabbing her hands "we should head back now." I push myself up off the sun-heated rock, pulling her with me.

"I think I'm going to stay here a while" she pulls her hands from mine. "Look at the stars."

"Mom, you can't—"

"Can't what, baby? See them?" she asks calmly, facing straight ahead.

"Mom I didn't think—"

"Of course you didn't, sweetie." she smiles "why would you worry about me?" she cocks her head, never turning back to me as she whispers "I'm already dead."

"Mom" I shake my head. "Why would you say that?" I whisper.

"You know it's true, sweetheart. You were there. Remember?"

Pictures flicker across my vision.

Mom and I watching the stars above the city.

Mom pointing blindly star shapes in the sky.

The crack of the gun.

The sickening sound as the bullet met flesh.

The blood staining the rock around her.

Her blind eyes looking out at the sky as the blood bloomed around the wound.

"No, no, that's not possible" I shake my head, pressing my back against the stone of the mountain.

"Now, Bella, don't tell me you don't believe in ghosts" she giggles into her hand. "You of all people should know I wouldn't go quietly."

"But you're here, I can touch you" I whisper, sliding down the rock, staring at my hands. "You're here."

"Bella" she snaps. "You have to listen to me." I look up from my hands. "You remember what I told you?" I nod my head slowly. "That nothing is what it seems?" I nod again. "Don't believe their illusions."

"Wait. What? Who's 'they'?"

"It's time for you to wake up now, baby" she says, leaning back against the rock. "They're going to want to move soon" she sighs.

I shake my head; "I don't want to leave you" I look out over the ledge, the tops of the trees swaying lightly in the breeze.

"I'm already dead, baby" she chuckles, like she can see what I was looking at "I can't die again."

"I don't want to leave" my throat tightens. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, sweetie, but it's time for me to go, and time for you to wake up."I shake my head. "Wake up, Bella."

"Wake up."

"Wake up" snaps a voice above me, their hands shaking my shoulders and shattering the last fragments of my mother from my mind.

A/N: yeahhh, that's it :( FOR NOW.

I'm so sorry yet again and I hope you guys can stick with me for a little longer.

Massive hugs to all you faithful and amazing people who reviewed and added my little story to their favourites and or alerts :)

thank you so much for the encouragement to continue and I hope I don't disappoint!