The Decimation series takes place in a world where everybody has been infected by a deadly virus. The organism remains inactive until a woman gives birth. Then it activates and kills the host.

So, why did I name it the Orestes virus?

Orestes was a character from Greek mythology. He was the son of Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae (or Argos) and Clytemnestra. Agamemnon took part in the Trojan war, but while he was away, Clytemnestra had an affair with a character named Aegisthus. When Agamemnon returned from the fighting, he was murdered by his wife’s lover. Orestes was a child at the time of the killing, but upon reaching adulthood, he gained his revenge by murdering both Aegisthus and his mother, Clytemnestra.

And there you have it. The virus kills the mother when she gives birth just like Orestes killed his parent. You can read more in Decimation: The Girl Who Survived.