When a Toronto teen suffers a panic attack at school, he escapes into the city's subway tunnels.

Underground, he discovers a hidden subculture thriving in the darkness.

I'm Chris Tawley here with Laura Mullen from CBC's acclaimed Play Me podcast, presenting Tunnel Runners, a thrilling new audio drama set beneath the city streets. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.

This is a CBC podcast. Please be advised. This podcast contains explicit language and mature themes.

This is the Shadows.

Episode 2.

Realist, introvert.

Why do I feel alone all the time anyway?

Um, sleep, sleep well, okay?

We'll see you in the morning.

Well, who doesn't?

Charlie, if we kiss would have ruined everything.

Um... Oh, yeah. Charlie. Yeah. I don't know, do you know anybody who's ever expressed the feeling of pretty constant, you know, like not feeling isolated?

What is the deal?

Like it feels like we're kind of I don't know it feels like

the beginning of something

um

well

I was a happy kid growing up

I grew up in the suburb of Montcheran. There was a lot of grass and lakes, and I had lots of cousins to hang out with. My dad was a teacher. My mom was an architect. I have a younger sister, who's sometimes pretty annoying, but otherwise she's okay.

It was a pretty easy life.

As a kid, I really liked art.

...