Battle royale – it had already been used with success in various countries around the world, and now it was the turn of Great Britain. One year group, from any one school anywhere at all in Britain could be subjected to this annual program, and this year, it was the quaint little school of St. Augustine's in Taunton's turn. A small school in size and number, St. Augustine's was notorious for being 'the school that came last'; be it in sporting events, intellectual competitions, or even, to an extent, the number of first choice applications for students moving up from primary school.
The particular year group which was to take part in the gore-fest known as the BR program was yet to be decided. On one Thursday afternoon, however, there was a meeting of the entire staff to find out which year will be participating. Students had already received letters to go home informing them and parents of the school ending early the following day for all year groups bar one, and they had thought nothing of it, except, perhaps, that it was a result of another strike, or a means of shoveling in more revision time for people with exams coming up.
The staff was prompt in making their way to the newly relocated faculty room, and all wore a face like thunder.
The staff room in its new location was split into two sections, a main lounge-esque area, and an office type room which usually housed the headmistress, as soon as the senior leadership team had randomly selected the student year taking part, they called in the 4 tutors for each of the 5 year groups, one year at a time.
So as not to make the fate of the students somewhat predictable, they randomized the order in which the staff would be called in, instead of ascending from year 7, to 8 to 9 etc. up to 11. First were the four tutors for year 8. As they walked into the office at a pace commonly seen only at funerals, they were briefly informed that they did not have the tutor group taking part, and were ushered out of the side door of the office, so as not to interact with the staff still waiting to hear the news. Years 10 and 7 were the following two years to go in, and, despite extremely loud outbursts and crying from several teachers, neither of them were leading the participating tutor group, however, the remaining two year group staff members were not aware of this, and, after hearing some of the reactions from the office, thought themselves to be in the clear.
Four more tutor leaders were called in, this time to hear different news to the rest. As they thought the crying sessions they previously heard were indications as to themselves being in the clear, they strolled in with much more of a relaxed air about them. Only one of the tutors, a Mr. Stephen Haigh, sat down at one of the four chairs, whilst the rest stood with smug expressions of their faces. The head mistress shuffled the 5 sheets of paper she held tightly and upright in her hands until she reached the corresponding year group's information. She frowned, and suddenly the smug expressions on the three other teacher's faces became looks of despair, shock, and upset. They were the tutors of the year group who were going to partake in Battle Royale. The headmistress quickly informed them of the news, as well as offering a heartfelt apology, and showed them to the door.
As the four of them paced out, their heads hung low, and looks of shock across their faces, they could not find the words to say to one another. They couldn't even make eye contact.