Imagine: you're adventuring the streets of Bucharest, Romania, about to enter the main train station that can take you pretty much anywhere in the country. You turn around because you heard a sound behind you, and all of a sudden you see someone, climbing out from the sewers. You must be seeing things right? No one can actually live in sewers.

Wrong. People can and they do.

Under the streets of Bucharest there are thousands of people who are living in the passages ways underground that were built during Ceausescu's reign. Most of the children through young adults are not only homeless but struggling with disease and drug addiction. Most are dead by the time they reach eighteen, however some are lucky and may make it into their early twenties.

When I arrived in Romania, I didn't know about these people. I had never heard of the situation or seen anything out of the ordinary as we were adventuring through the city, until one of our leaders brought up the subject. She explained to us while she was living in Bucharest, she once saw a girl, pop her head up, and climb out of the sewer, close it back up, and continue on her way.

I sat in the back of the van listening to this story thinking that there was no way this could be real. I know Romania isn't the richest country, and that they do have problems with homelessness and thievery, but could there really be people living underground?

So, I did what any good millennial would do, as soon as I got back to somewhere that had wifi, the computer was out and I was reading everything that I possibly could on the "Kids of the Underground."

I found out that in order to get into their world you first have to go to their leader, Bruce Lee, a name he picked up from his days of street fighting. After the initial meeting, he decides whether you're allowed to come into their world or need to stay up on the streets.

Most of the "kids" that are welcomed into this world are not only homeless and poverty stricken, but also have a long history of drug abuse. Intravenous drugs and a silver metallic paint called Aurolac, that is easily huffed from a bag, are the drugs of choice. Most of these people suffer from HIV and many are also stricken with Tuberculosis. The price these kids pay for living under the streets seems to be premature death and a painful life.

So what can be done about the epidemic? With the way the Romanian government is right now, nothing at the moment. The only hope these kids have is being taken in and being cared for by real, loving families, but with no way out from under the streets, this seems like a dismal hope.

If you want to learn more about the Underground Children, check out these links from Channel 4 News, National Geographic, and Snag Films.