Ugh... I meant to post this sooner but had a crazy day, and I apologize if it seems sparse; I'll try to make it up to you all with the next chapter. Blessings, A. R. -----------------------------------------------------------      Laurel shivered as she followed Dylan through alleys and side roads, weaving in, out, and deeper into the fifth district. The sky above was ink black and stars dotted the expanse; but such a beautiful and comforting sight gave Laurel no peace.      The air felt suffocating, and she felt her lungs begin to squeeze. She wanted to take a deep breath to appease her body's need, but the air was utterly putrid. She didn’t know how she could describe the smell, and she hoped she would never have to.      As they passed a tent, a scuffling noise began and voices whispered, sounding like grated gravel and a wispy  breeze all in one. The sound of it sent a tingling sensation down her spine. Laurel felt panic rising in her chest. She quickly looked ahead for Dylan and saw him disappear around a corner. Nearly squealing with fright, Laurel ran after him.      When she finally caught up to him, her brow was wet with cold sweat. He looked at her with a hint of mystification in his gaze. “What’s wrong?” He whispered.      Laurel glared at him. “You don’t have to leave me behind, that’s all!” She exclaimed, hugging herself underneath the mantle she wore.      Dylan chuckled softly as Laurel continued to glower.      “Alright, I think you’re ready for an answer,” Dylan said, looking at her with smug amusement.      Laurel muttered something indistinct. “What is it, then? Are there actually lepers here, and if that’s the case, why the blazes do we come here?” She asked, trying to compose herself enough to give him a look of contempt and disdain.      Dylan beamed as he turned to look at the vast spread of buildings still unexplored or mentioned by either of them.      “Laurel, it’s a mask. One that has fooled the Administration for years!”      Laurel didn’t know how to respond. It sounded absolutely ridiculous, she almost expected him to say he was kidding. But when he turned back to face her and she met his gaze, all doubt vanished.      Dylan wasn’t joking.      The fifth district was a mask that covered the real work of the resistance.        “So there aren’t any lepers?” She asks timidly, looking around for any sign of rabbits.      Dylan smiled and shook his head, starting down a road with Laurel hot on his heels.      “Not a single one. Of course, it has to remain a secret, otherwise we could be in danger of being discovered. But it’s a ruse to cover up our work. None of the administration have ever set foot in here since it’s been known as the infected district,” he explained, smirking at her. “Well, besides me and a few others.”      Laurel raised her eyebrows at him but didn’t respond. This was a shock, and Laurel continually told herself to prepare for more revelations as long as she was a part of the Cause.      “Will the ‘lepers' be used in a future plan? Besides covering up the seventh district, I mean,” Laurel asked, recognizing the building in front of them. They were close to the hidden entrance.      Dylan frowned. “That’s the thing; many of us are divided about what our responsibilities are, and what our goal should be. So who knows what will happen,” he said as he pulled back the tent flap and motioned her inside. They pulled back their hoods and Laurel turned around to face the room. She gasped and instinctively stepped back.      Two rabbits sat around the fire pit and were creating some sort of soup in the cauldron. It smelled horrendous. The rabbits themselves looked terrible. Their fur was matted with who knew what and dirty strips of linen were wrapped around various parts of their arms, hands, legs, and heads. They looked at Dylan and Laurel as they entered and nodded their heads, continuing their muttered conversation along with an occasional cough.      Dylan turned to Laurel and smiled, leaning close to whisper in her ear.      “Its fine; they are just keeping this entrance clear from anyone who shouldn’t be here.” He explained, motioning to the tunnel entrance. Laurel inhaled and nodded, stooping to her knees and crawling into the darkness that led to a secret place below.