Shell talks about hostage situations in the chapter on leverage. Why does time seem to play such a positive factor in hostage surviving such a situation?

Even the best hostage takers can't cover every exit. Eventually an opportunity to escape will present itself if you can stay alive long enough to take it$.$

The more time you stay alive the longer you have to find a really good hiding place.

Hostage takers tend to develop relationship with hostages.

People make wiser decisions when well fed. The first step in any hostage negotiation is to send in food.