I like the idea of it being opposite and since it cloaks her she can't sense it in others.  Like that a lot.  Nice 

Hmm.  The Zone was started as a place for those that can't afford the machines to live and yeah it makes sense that criminals would be sent there.  However I am thinking the Zone has sections in it where different groups would live like one part had the criminals and is kind of like a jail area.  Another has the poor people that live on the streets.  Then another has the residential area where the families that are unable to afford better and maybe were sent there with younger kids that didn't control their stuff or that killed someone are sent or live.  It might also be called the Forbidden Zone since the nightmares there are not policed like outside.  Damn I am going to have to think on this and see what all I picture.  Then I will try and write it out better so that it makes more sense.  What do you picture for the Zone?