"The one what?" Kai asked, stopping just at the side of the soldier with a scar.
The soldier smiled, then shook his head. "The one they're already calling the Titan Killer."
The room gained its life as a ripple of whispers moved through from behind Kai.
Brann set his rifle down, then turned. "Knock it off, Vance."
Vance didn't even look at him. He kept his gaze locked on Kai. "I'm just saying what everyone's thinking."
He gave a subtle, eerie laugh, brushing his palms across his face. "Team Alpha gets sent out, nearly wiped. The Titanaboa turns up dead. And the only one who walks back without a scratch is the kid who wasn't even supposed to be there in the first place."
Kai threw a sharp stare at Vance, his hands shaking.
"You think I wanted them to die?" Kai spoke in an angry tone.
Vance's smile faltered for a second. "I think," he lowered his voice, "…that wherever you go, things seem to end up badly for the people around you."
