ℐ𝒹ℴ𝓁 ℬ𝓁ℴℴ𝒹𝓁𝒾𝓃ℯ 𝐸𝑃𝐼𝑆𝑂𝐷𝐸 1: 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒...
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The morning sun beamed off the glass-paneled facade of BLOODLINE STUDIO, a sleek, high-tech building that looked more like a futuristic palace than a filming location. Outside, a matte black van came to a gentle stop, and the door slid open with a hiss. One by one, VYRA stepped out, their expressions shifting from awe to anticipation.
Sofi was the first to plant her designer-booted foot onto the pavement. She flicked her hair over her shoulder and squinted up at the massive sign above the entrance.
“This is giving SM headquarters if it slayed,” she muttered, adjusting her sunglasses. “No one talk to me until I find the lighting.”
Aria leaned forward, peeking out the van. “Is this where we’re staying too?” she asked, eyes wide. “It looks like a whole K-drama set.”
Behind her, Iris stepped out gracefully, dragging her suitcase like she was arriving at a Vogue shoot. “Let’s just not get lost before episode one,” she murmured.
Areum, bringing up the rear, was already grinning. “Too late,” she said, nudging Iris. “Sofi’s mentally redecorating the dorms.”
Sofi didn’t even deny it. “And I will be getting the best room. Don’t test me.”
★
Across the courtyard, ENHYPEN had already arrived and were chatting casually outside. Jake threw a peace sign at the camera. Sunoo lounged on a bench, phone in hand, dramatically adjusting his sunglasses. Ni-Ki was bouncing a pebble off the toe of his shoe like it owed him money.
Inside the boys’ dorm, Heeseung glanced out the window just in time to see VYRA approaching.
“They definitely didn’t come here to make friends,” he muttered, smirking. “They came to be iconic.”
As VYRA entered, the air shifted. Iris walked like she owned the building. Aria’s gaze swept the boys like she was assessing competition. Areum waved cutely at a staff member. And Sofi? Sofi paused just before stepping through the threshold.
“THE SUN IS TOO HARSH FOR MY ENTRANCE,” she announced to no one in particular. “Can we shade this door or something?”
Jake blinked. Ni-Ki burst out laughing. Sunghoon, who had been silent until now, let his eyes flick toward her and then away just as quickly.
★
The dorms were split by design — two mirrored halves, one for VYRA and one for ENHYPEN, with a shared lounge sitting like neutral ground in the center.
“These dorms will be your homes for the next eight weeks,” a producer’s voice announced through the speakers. “Cameras are on 24/7.”
VYRA immediately broke into motion.
“I’m sharing a wall with Ni-Ki,” Aria muttered as she dragged her suitcase toward her room. “I can already hear the bass from his speaker. Pray for me.”
Areum and Iris opened the door to their dorm and took it in — sleek, minimal, cool-toned with grey walls and polished wood floors.
“It’s giving… Airbnb, but make it bloodline,” Areum said, dropping onto a bed.
“Let’s not touch Sofi’s stuff,” Iris advised calmly. “She’ll go full drama queen.”
Sure enough, in the next room, Sofi was already wrapping fairy lights around the bedframe, a ring light balanced under one arm.
“My room needs to scream ‘main character energy’ or I’m not surviving this show,” she declared to the camera with a wink.
Meanwhile, in the boys’ dorm, Jake had already spilled protein powder across the counter. Heeseung groaned and helped clean it up. Sunghoon, ever quiet, was neatly unpacking — but paused when he heard laughter echo from the girls’ side.
He looked toward the shared lounge, brows furrowing slightly.
“I haven’t even spoken to Sofi yet,” he said in a confessional later, “and I already know she’s going to be a problem.”
Cut to Sofi in her own confessional, practically reclined in her chair.
“Sunghoon’s too quiet,” she said. “It’s always the quiet ones you gotta watch. He’s probably plotting.”
★
Later that afternoon, all members were gathered in the massive performance hall. The stage was circular and surrounded by giant LED screens flashing the logo of the show. The energy was tense — not unfriendly, but charged, like everyone was waiting for a twist.
The host, a sharp-dressed MC with a mic clipped to his lapel, stepped forward as dramatic lighting rippled across the stage.
“Welcome to Idol Bloodline,” he said with a smile. “Over the next eight weeks, you’ll face challenges designed to push your limits — vocals, dance, rap, and charisma. But this time… you’re not doing it alone.”
Gasps and murmurs spread through the group.
“You’ll be working in mixed units,” he continued. “One VYRA member. One ENHYPEN member.”
Sunoo visibly froze. “Mixed units?” he repeated in his confessional later. “I’m not surviving this show.”
Aria leaned over to Areum. “So I could be paired with Jake?” she whispered. “Or worse… Ni-Ki.”
Ni-Ki looked personally offended. “Rude. I’m a fan favorite.”
“If I get Sunghoon,” Sofi muttered, arms crossed, “I’m walking off set.”
From a few steps behind her, Sunghoon said under his breath, “Please do.”
The host let the moment linger before smiling again.
“Unit pairings will be revealed… tomorrow.”
★
That night, the dorms were buzzing. VYRA had half-unpacked and were already playing with lighting setups. ENHYPEN lounged in the shared lounge, pretending not to be curious about what was happening on the other side.
Jake tried to start a game of UNO. Areum snuck extra throw pillows into the common space. Aria locked herself in a room to journal. Iris sat calmly, headphones on, watching everyone with a quiet smile.
Sofi was on the balcony, phone in one hand, the night wind blowing her hair like she was shooting a perfume ad.
In the confessional booth, the members opened up, one by one.
“The vibe is light now,” Iris said, legs crossed elegantly. “But give it one challenge and it’s war.”
“I came to slay, not to play,” Areum said with a wink. “But… I’m lowkey excited.”
Jake laughed into the mic. “I don’t even know what I’m doing yet, but I’m vibing. And Aria? She’s intense. I dig it.”
Sofi reclined dramatically in her chair. “I know I’m dramatic. I own that,” she said. “But if I’m going down… I’m going down in glitter and heels.”
Sunghoon, arms crossed, stared straight ahead.
“Sofi’s going to drive me insane,” he said. “But like… in a weirdly entertaining way.”
The screen faded to black, the logo of Idol Bloodline slowly appearing as music swelled.
THE BLOODLINE REMEMBER WHO DARES...