**Chapter 3: The Ghostly Encounter**

The abandoned building on Manhattan's Upper East Side loomed before Tony, its crumbling facade a testament to the city's neglect and decay. As he stepped inside, the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath his feet echoed through the deserted halls, sending shivers down his spine. The air was thick with dust, and the smell of decay hung heavy, but Tony felt an inexplicable pull to explore the depths of the building. As he wandered through the empty rooms, Tony's senses seemed heightened. He could feel the weight of the building's history bearing down on him, and the ghostly energies that lingered in every corner seemed to be growing stronger by the minute. Suddenly, he sensed a presence behind him. Tony spun around, but there was no one there. Or so he thought. A ghostly figure materialized before him, its translucent form undulating in the dim light. Tony's heart skipped a beat as he took in the sight of the ghost, a middle-aged man with a rugged expression and a hint of determination in his eyes. "Who are you?" Tony asked, trying to keep his voice steady. The ghost regarded him with a serious expression. "My name is Jack Harris," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "And you, Tony Wyzek, are a long time coming." Tony's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know my name?" Jack's gaze seemed to bore into Tony's soul. "I've been watching you, Tony. I've been waiting for you. You have a connection to the Ghost Realm, a connection that goes back to your past." Tony's mind reeled as he tried to process Jack's words. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Jack's expression turned somber. "Your family, Tony... they were involved in ghost hunting. They constructed a portal into the Ghost Realm, a portal that you accidentally encountered as a child." Tony's eyes felt like they were going to bug out of his head. "What portal? What are you talking about?" Jack's ghostly form seemed to lean in, as if sharing a secret. "The portal, Tony... it's a gateway between the living world and the Ghost Realm. Your family built it, but they couldn't control it. You, on the other hand... you have a special connection to the portal. A connection that could change everything." As Jack spoke, the air around Tony seemed to grow colder, and the shadows on the walls appeared to twist and writhe like living things. Tony felt like he was standing on the edge of a precipice, staring into an abyss of unknown terrors. "What do you want from me?" Tony asked, trying to keep his fear at bay. Jack's expression softened, and for a moment, Tony saw a glimmer of sadness in his eyes. "I want to help you, Tony. I want to help you understand your powers and your connection to the Ghost Realm. You have a crucial role to play in the battle between the living world and the Ghost Realm." As Jack finished speaking, his ghostly form began to fade away, leaving Tony standing alone in the abandoned building. But before he disappeared completely, Jack's voice echoed in Tony's mind. "Remember, Tony... your past is not what you think it is. The truth is out there, and you need to find it." Tony was left standing in the darkness, his mind reeling with questions and his heart pounding with anticipation. He knew that his life was about to change in ways he couldn't even imagine, and he was both excited and terrified to see what the future held. As he turned to leave the abandoned building, Tony felt a strange sensation wash over him, like the whisper of a ghostly presence. He spun around, but there was no one there. The sensation seemed to come from within him, a stirring of powers that he couldn't yet control. Tony's eyes locked onto his own reflection in a shattered mirror, and for a moment, he saw a glimmer of something more, something beyond the portal's shadow.