I heard running footsteps coming from the corridor outside, which was an unusual sound to hear in this part of the building. If I could, I would have gone outside of the room to check, but they've locked me in here now. When the nurse discovered me missing a few hours ago, she freaked out. And when I was found, I was told that I was to be confined for my own good. But I'm going crazy in here, doing nothing but lying in bed. They've locked me in here with the thoughts that won't leave me alone. It's cruel.

I try to distract myself, but no matter how hard I try my thoughts keep returning to Nicol. He looked so defeated in his cell. Hard to believe that someone like that could be a traitor. My mind keeps showing me the last hour over and over, like a video on repeat.

Three hours earlier

Nicol? Le Creuset's words were ringing in my head. It couldn't be Nicol, I thought, No, no way. He's... he's my friend, he's a good guy, he would never...no...I decided that I couldn't just sit here and think about it, I had to investigate. If Nicol really did do this, then I had to find out why. I waited until the doctor had left and then silently left my room, ignoring the excruciating pains when I moved. That would definitely slow me down, but it wouldn't stop me.

Arriving at the place where Nicol was being held, I cursed when I realised that there were guards outside the room. Of course there are guards, idiot! I thought to myself. My saving grace came in the form of Rusty. Rusty was a friend of mine, and was one of the most easygoing guys I knew. He had a great sense of humour and was just an all-round nice guy. I had never been so thankful to see him in all of my life.

After I explained myself to him, he grinned in a typical Rusty fashion and said, "Leave it to me." He walked around the corner, and ten seconds later, I heard a melodramatic cry of "Somebody help me! Please, quickly!" coming from further down the hallway. I caught a flash of Rusty's red hair as he disappeared around another corner, followed by the guards who had gone to see what all the commotion was. I knew I didn't have long before they returned, so I entered the now unguarded room and quickly as possible and shut the door behind me.

The room of cells was large enough to accommodate up to fifteen prisoners, but only one cell was occupied today. I walked slowly to the occupied cell, wincing with every step. Even the short walk from the hospital to the cells had drained me. I stopped outside the cell, and looked in. Nicol had never looked so defeated, with his slumped posture and face that looked like he'd been crying. His eyes widened when he saw me at the door of his cell.

"Athrun!" he exclaimed. "Thank god you're okay! I was so worried." Yeah right. A traitor wouldn't worry about the life of an enemy. Nicol looked down at his feet before he spoke again, "And you're here, so you must've heard what they're saying about me."

I took a deep breath and spoke, the pain in my ribs increasing with every breath. "I just have one question for you Nicol: Why? Why did you betray us to the Earth Forces? Why did you betray your family in the PLANTs? Why did you betray me?" My voice had risen to a shout.

"I didn't!" Nicol cried. "I didn't betray you, because I didn't do it! Don't you believe me, Athrun?" He was choking back sobs now.

I shook my head. "No, I don't believe you," I said. "You have the skills to pull it off and the proof is in the computer logs. It was you who planted the bomb and it was you who betrayed us to the Earth Forces! Admit it, Nicol!"

Nicol just stared at the floor and shook his head, quietly crying. He knew that anything he could say now would be pointless, that my mind was made up. When he spoke again, it was much quieter. "Just answer me this, Athrun," he said. "Why would I try to blow up the only friend I have in this place?"

I had no answer for that. "I don't know, Nicol," I replied. "I don't know how a traitor's mind works." I decided to leave then, but when I turned to move, the whole room spun with me and I couldn't breathe. I fell to the floor, gasping, and landed on my injured arm. The pain in my chest had become unbearable, and now the pain in my arm was excruciating too. I was dimly aware of Nicol shouting my name in concern, and I could hear someone opening the door. Then I gave in to the blackness.

After I awoke back in the infirmary, I received a full ten-minute shouted lecture from the doctor. Do I realise how much worse I could have made my injuries, do I realise what an idiot I was, et cetera, et cetera. Needless to say, my little escapade did not sit well with the medical staff. So now here I am, with the door locked from the outside, with nothing to do except relive those moments over and over again.

Nicol's trial was scheduled soon. The whole academy was going to attend, so they could set an example of what happened to traitors. I wasn't allowed to attend because of my condition, and that frustrated me more than anything. As much as I hated Nicol right now, I couldn't bring myself to think that his punishment would be deserved. For this, the death penalty would surely be given, and I couldn't wish that on anyone, not even a traitor like Nicol. Not even someone who pretended to be my friend only to betray me.

"Why would I try to blow up the only friend I have in this place?" I don't know, Nicol. I really don't.