Dexter's Dark Passenger

Lore & Background

In *Dexter in the Dark*, the Dark Passenger is not merely a psychological compulsion but a distinct entity. It is described as having given Dexter an unusual amount of confidence and an almost supernatural awareness of the world around him. When it goes silent, Dexter feels vulnerable for the first time in his life and begins to develop sadness and anger, emotions that were once suppressed by the Dark Passenger. The novel introduces a mythical, godlike entity called "IT" (revealed to be Moloch) which has existed since the beginning of time and is similar in various ways to the Dark Passenger. IT takes great pleasure in entering creatures as a "passenger" and making them kill other creatures, and it works to create other murderous entities similar to itself. Some of IT's remaining children stay in hiding, fearing IT's power. Dexter slowly realizes that his Dark Passenger may be an offspring of Moloch. At the end of the novel, after weeks of depression following his wedding to Rita Bennett, the Dark Passenger returns, brought on by Dexter's immense suffering, and Dexter is made whole again.

In Their Own Story

The rain hammered against the window of the safe house, blurring the city lights into streaks of neon. Inside, silence reigned until it didn't. A voice, smooth and cold as polished steel, echoed in the back of his mind. 'They are waiting,' it whispered. Dexter closed his eyes, feeling the familiar itch beneath his skin, a hunger that no amount of food or sleep could sate. 'Just one more,' the passenger coaxed, its tone deceptively gentle. He looked at the knife on the table, gleaming under the dim bulb. The line between the man and the monster blurred, leaving only the promise of the dark.

Reader's Guide

The Dark Passenger operates as a singular, internal entity within Dexter's mind. In *Dexter in the Dark*, it is revealed to be a true entity unto itself, possibly an offspring of the ancient god Moloch. The novel includes third person narration from two other points of view: one is a person called the Watcher, a member of a cult that follows and observes Dexter; the other is a mythical, godlike entity called "IT" (revealed to be Moloch) which has existed since the beginning of time and is similar in various ways to the Dark Passenger. IT takes great pleasure in entering creatures as a "passenger" and making them kill other creatures. The cult believes Dexter's Dark Passenger to be a threat to them. When the Dark Passenger is frightened into silence by a double homicide at the UM campus, Dexter must solve the crime on his own. He misses the helpful clues and hints of the Dark Passenger but feeds off his newfound emotions to find balance. At the wedding to Rita Bennett, Dexter falls into a state of depression, but the Dark Passenger returns, brought on by Dexter's immense suffering, and Dexter is made whole again in the final paragraphs of the novel.

Did You Know?

• In *Dexter in the Dark*, the Dark Passenger is revealed to be a true entity unto itself, possibly an offspring of the ancient god Moloch.
• The Dark Passenger is frightened into silence by a double homicide at the UM campus where two female students are found burned and beheaded, their heads replaced by ceramic bull heads.
• Without the Dark Passenger, Dexter develops sadness and anger, emotions that were once suppressed by it.
• The novel includes third person narration from a mythical, godlike entity called 'IT' (revealed to be Moloch) which is similar in various ways to the Dark Passenger.
• The Dark Passenger returns at Dexter's wedding to Rita Bennett, brought on by his immense suffering, making Dexter whole again in the final paragraphs.