**Chapter 49: Descent into Madness**

The neon lights of the city seemed to fade into the background as Oikawa watched Kageyama disappear into the darkness with the mysterious woman. He felt a sense of desperation wash over him, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. He took a step forward, his eyes locked on the woman's retreating back, but his feet felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot. The bartender, a gruff-looking man with a thick beard, approached him, his voice low and gravelly. "You okay, kid? You look like you've lost your last friend." Oikawa's eyes snapped back to the bartender, his expression incredulous. "I need to find him," he said, his voice laced with urgency. "The guy who just left with the woman. Where did they go?" The bartender snorted, his expression skeptical. "You mean Kageyama? That kid's been coming here for weeks, always sitting in the corner, nursing a drink. He's a troubled soul, that one." He leaned in, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "The woman, she's a... let's just say she's a collector of lost souls. She's been sniffing around here for months, looking for people like Kageyama." Oikawa's eyes widened, his mind reeling with the implications. He grabbed the bartender's arm, his grip tight. "Tell me where they went," he demanded. The bartender hesitated, his eyes darting around the room before nodding. "There's a door in the back, leads to a stairwell. I think they went down." Without another word, Oikawa took off, his feet pounding the floor as he sprinted towards the door. He flung it open, revealing a narrow stairwell that plunged into darkness. He hesitated for a moment, his heart racing with fear, before taking the first step down. The air grew colder with each step, the shadows seeming to close in around him. Oikawa's eyes strained to see into the darkness, his ears straining to pick up any sound. And then, he heard it - a low, whispery voice, echoing off the walls. "Kageyama," the voice whispered. "You're mine now." Oikawa's heart skipped a beat as he picked up speed, his feet pounding the stairs. He burst through the door at the bottom, slamming into a dimly lit alleyway. The neon lights of the city seemed to pulse around him, casting an otherworldly glow over the scene. He scanned the alleyway, his eyes locking on a figure - Kageyama, standing at the end of the alley, his eyes black as coal. The woman stood beside him, her eyes glinting with a malevolent light. "Welcome to the family, Kageyama," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "You're one of us now." Oikawa's eyes widened in horror as Kageyama turned to face him, a cold, calculated smile spreading across his face. "I'm sorry, Oikawa," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I've found my true home." As Oikawa watched, frozen in despair, Kageyama reached out and took the woman's hand, his eyes locking on Oikawa's with an unnerving intensity. The woman smiled, her eyes glinting with a knowing light, and pulled Kageyama into the shadows, leaving Oikawa to wonder if he'd ever see his partner again.