Hatter takes the group of Alyssians to a tavern in Wondertropolis, where they encounter a young girl who was previously present at the Alyssian camp. The girl introduces herself as Homburg Molly and tells Alyss that she can lead her to the puzzle shop. Molly warns the group that the Cut is on their way to the tavern, and she points them to a secret exit into the alley; as the Cut bursts through the door, Molly leads the group to safety in the alley.

Molly leads the group to an abandoned puzzle shop, but the group is attacked by seekers, another of Redd’s created monsters. The white chessmen of the Alyssian army come to the aid of Alyss and the others, repelling the enemy while Molly and Alyss enter the shop. Inside, Alyss finds a crystal cube on a shelf and immediately knows it to be the key to the Looking Glass Maze. When she picks it up, the battle scene freezes before her, and Alyss finds herself falling through a looking glass into the Maze.

In the Maze, Alyss encounters important figures from her life, such as her parents and her younger self, with whom she plays a game of tag.